Notts: Apprenticeship success stories celebrated at awards evening

Apprentices and employers across Notts are celebrating following the East Midlands ceremony of the National Apprenticeship Awards 2014.
National Apprenticeship Awards 2014 East Midlands : Nottinghamshire Winners - L-R Isabelle Pearson (Intermediate Level Apprentice), Emma Roberts (Higher Apprentice) and Adam Walker of Dental 22 (Small Employer).National Apprenticeship Awards 2014 East Midlands : Nottinghamshire Winners - L-R Isabelle Pearson (Intermediate Level Apprentice), Emma Roberts (Higher Apprentice) and Adam Walker of Dental 22 (Small Employer).
National Apprenticeship Awards 2014 East Midlands : Nottinghamshire Winners - L-R Isabelle Pearson (Intermediate Level Apprentice), Emma Roberts (Higher Apprentice) and Adam Walker of Dental 22 (Small Employer).

The winners and highly commended entries were announced at a prestigious awards ceremony held on Tuesday 2nd September at the East Midlands Conference Centre in Notts.

The National Apprenticeship Awards recognise excellence in businesses that grow their own talent with apprentices and apprentices who have made a significant contribution to their workplaces.

Notts apprenticeship employer winners on the night included Retford dental practice Dental22, which took the Regional Small Employer of the Year award, while Notts City Council was also highly commended in the BT Macro Employer of the Year category.

Adam Walker, principal dentist at Dental22, said: “We have found that those who are attracted to apprenticeships are dynamic, highly motivated and hardworking individuals. We harness this energy through a well-structured training programme. This allows for career progression to senior management and the opportunity for further educational qualifications to degree level.”

The Notts apprentice winners on the night were Isabelle Pearson, 21, who scooped the Regional Learndirect Intermediate Apprentice of the Year award and 20-year-old Emma Roberts from Newark who was presented with the Regional Unilever Higher Apprentice of the Year award.

Isabelle, who has completed apprenticeships with national pub company and brewer Greene King, said: “Completing multiple Apprenticeships has enabled me to learn the key skills I need to further my career. I’ve been able to challenge myself and my capabilities and, as a result, I’ve progressed from being a team member to an assistant manager at just 21.”

Emma, who is completing her higher apprenticeship in electrical engineering with Fairfield Control Systems in Newark, said: “I’ve always had a passion for engineering, and taking up an apprenticeship has allowed me to become part of an engineering team. I’ve gained valuable experience and been able to contribute on many of the company’s large projects. I’m now committed to sharing my experience and to encouraging other young people to consider an Apprenticeship in the future.”

All the East Midlands winners will proceed through to a final national judging stage, and the apprenticeship employer entries judged to be the very best of the best will have the additional honour of featuring in the acclaimed Top 100 Apprenticeship Employers list, which will be produced by the National Apprenticeship Service in partnership with City & Guilds.

The Top 100 Apprenticeship Employers and the national award winners will be revealed during the national ceremony at the LG Arena in Birmingham on the 13th November.

Karen Riley, National Apprenticeship Service deputy director employer, said: “The National Apprenticeship Awards are an excellent platform to recognise and celebrate the dedication shown by all our excellent Apprenticeship employers and apprentices.”

“The quality of entries we have had for the East Midlands awards this year has been exceptional. Those who have won should celebrate their success. But every apprentice and employer who entered can be proud of what they have achieved.”

Visit apprenticeships.org.uk or call 08000 150 600 to find out more.

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