OxLEP urges county not to underestimate the value of apprenticeships as Oxfordshire Apprenticeship Awards finalists are announced during National Careers Week

Pictured above – some of last year’s winners and finalists at 2019 awardsJury’s Inn Oxford

Finalists of this year’s Oxfordshire Apprenticeship Awards were announced earlier today (5 March)ahead of a prestigious awards evening taking place next month.

The Oxfordshire Local Enterprise Partnership (OxLEP) – organisers of the countywide awards – have announced the final three nominees across each of the 12 categories as part of this year’s National Careers Week.

This year has seen the highest amount of entries to the awards yetwith a total of 98 entries – nearly double that of the 2019 awards – highlighting the importance of the ‘on-the-job’ training opportunities available in Oxfordshire.

This year has also seen the introduction of a new category to the awardsthe Apprenticeship Employer Award (less than 10 employees) celebrating the range of micro-businesses in Oxfordshire showing their commitment to apprenticeships.

Finalists were announced as follows:

Intermediate Apprentice of the Year Award
Sponsored by Abbott Diabetes Care

Finalists:

• Teya Agnese Apprentice Clinical Trial Support Officer University of Oxford
• Simon Cooper Project Administration Apprentice Activate Learning
• Deanne Hope-Fowler Meetings and Events Sales Office Manager Jurys Inn Oxford

Advanced Apprentice of the Year Award
Sponsored by Nielsen

Finalists:

• Melissa Chigubu eDrive Apprentice GKN Automotive
• Kerrie-Jo O’Flynn Manufacturing Assembly Integration Testing (M.A.I.T) Technician Apprentice Oxford Space Systems
• Sophie Pomroy Business Administration Apprentice Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Higher Apprentice of the Year Award
Sponsored by Blenheim

Finalists:

• Mandy Hallifax Specialist Nurse Sonographer / ANP Trainee Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
• Aden Rawlings Chartered Manager Degree Apprentice Nielsen
• Amy Stirton Nursing Associate Trainee Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Special Recognition Award
Sponsored by Popham Hairdressing

Finalists:

• Kameca Gayle Business Administration Apprentice Oxfordshire County Council
• William Meredith Apprentice Carpenter Taylor Wimpey Oxfordshire
• Autumn Walsh Project Support Officer Oxfordshire County Council

Shining Star Award
Sponsored by Integration Technology Ltd

Finalists:

• Jack Dobson Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
• Katie Lay South Oxfordshire District Council 
• Luke MattamOxfordshire County Council

School Award
Sponsored by Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Finalists:

• Carterton Community College
• Icknield Community College
• King Alfred’s Academy

Work Experience Award
Sponsored by OxLEP Skills

Finalists:

• Jewson
• Olamalu
• The Barr Group

Apprenticeship Employer of the Year (<10 Employees) Award
Sponsored by University Print Studio

Finalists:

• The Skincare Clinic
• Chris Evans Witney
• The Money Consultancy Limited

Apprenticeship Employer of the Year (<50 Employees) Award
Sponsored by The Burnside Partnership

Finalists:

• Computer Assistance
• Ignite Sport UK
• Olamalu

Apprenticeship Employer of the Year (50+ Employees) Award
Sponsored by Clarkson Evans

Finalists:

• Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust
• Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
• Thames Valley Police

Nigel Tipple – Chief Executive of OxLEP – said: “Many Oxfordshire businesses are committed to creating apprenticeshipsseeing them as a positive way of developing a highly-trained workforce for the future – through the 2020 awards we have engaged even more businesses than ever before.

“Young people and their parents want to know whether an apprenticeship is a viable option when taking that all-important first career step. These awards reaffirm the view that apprenticeships are a sound choiceas they offer both industry-leading qualifications and unrivalled work experience.”

Annie Pearson – Marketing Associate at Stuart Barr – said: “The Barr Group are delighted to have reached the final of the OxLEP Work Experience Award 2020.”

“Many of our skilled craftsmen (and women) were once apprentices and many of our apprentices made their debut with the organisation through our work experience scheme. It is a credit to our training co-ordinator and our fabulous site and workshop mentors that we continue to see this process come full circlebenefitting both the organisation and the local community we are part of.

“We thank OxLEP for recognising our contribution and giving us this opportunity to shine a light on the people within our organisation who work very hard to make it happen.”

The Oxfordshire Apprenticeship Awards 2020 will be taking place at Williams F1 Conference Centre on Thursday 2 April.

Find out more on the Oxfordshire Apprenticeship Awards