Awards launched to celebrate Worcestershire apprentices

The celebratory event makes a welcome return to the county’s calendar and was announced at the end of National Apprenticeship Week (NAW) which took place from 6 to 12 February. During NAW week success stories were shared, including news that around 4000 apprenticeships were started in the county in the last year making them a key education and employment pathway, plus some of the 268 council employees currently undertaking an apprenticeship shared their success journeys too.

The annual Worcestershire Apprenticeship Awards, now in its ninth year, will be hosted in conjunction with Worcestershire Apprenticeships at West Midlands Safari Park in November and entry has now opened for apprentices, employers, schools, and training providers to submit nominations. The awards are split into 11 categories including the illustrious Worcestershire Apprenticeship Employer of the Year and Worcestershire Apprentice of the Year awards.

Apprentice Awards

• intermediate Level Apprentice of the Year
• advanced Level Apprentice of the Year
• higher Level Apprentice of the Year

Employer Awards

• small Apprenticeship Employer of the Year (more than 50 employees)
• medium Apprenticeship Employer of the Year (50 to 249 employees)
• large Apprenticeship Employer of the Year (fewer than 250 employees)

Support Awards

• school of the Year
• training Provider of the Year
• apprentice Ambassador of the Year

Councillor Marc Bayliss, Cabinet Member with responsibility for Economy, Infrastructure and Skills said: “National Apprenticeship Week was a great celebration of everyone involved in making apprenticeships a success here in Worcestershire, and I was pleased to see so much support locally. It was the perfect way to round off the national event by launching the 2023 Worcestershire Apprenticeships Awards, so that we can continue to recognise the fantastic individuals and organisations involved with delivering apprenticeships in our county.”

Gary Woodman, Chief Executive of Worcestershire Local Enterprise Partnership, added: “With the awards open for entries, this is the perfect chance to celebrate all those involved with apprenticeships as we have categories for both small and large apprenticeship employers, apprentices of all levels and recognition for our schools and training providers who promote apprenticeships. I’d like to encourage any Worcestershire apprentices, employers of all sizes, training providers, schools, and apprenticeship ambassadors to get their entries in.”