The Oxfordshire Apprenticeship Awards is an annual event organised by Oxfordshire Local Enterprise Partnership (OxLEP), which recognises the exceptional skills and determination of Oxfordshire’s apprentices and those who support them along their journey. The 2024 celebration evening took place on 16 May at Williams Racing and saw apprentices, former apprentices, employers, training providers and school careers leads all take home prizes for their achievements.
Guests at the event also had the opportunity to become winners by taking part in a charity raffle held in aid of school readiness charity Growing Minds, which was chosen by the awards headline sponsor Oxford North. Prizes were generously donated by awards sponsors, who are local organisations, including Owen Mumford, Darke & Taylor, Abbott Diabetes Care, Grundon and The Engineering Trust.
The charity raffle was an idea devised in 2022 by OxLEP’s Events & Communications Assistant, Sophie Laurie-Lynch, who is an apprentice herself, currently working towards a Level 4 PR & Communications Assistant Apprenticeship. Sophie felt that it was a great opportunity to give something back to the local community and the raffle has gone from strength to strength over the past three years, this year raising £400 to help Growing Minds to support the life chances of local children.
Becky Young, Local Delivery & Growing Minds Manager attended the event to help sell tickets and call the raffle with Sophie. Becky said: “This generous donation will fund 16 children to have books for one year through Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library. In short, this is one free high quality and age-appropriate book per month delivered to the child’s door.”
Becky is pictured above her colleague Camille Kalaja and with on stage calling the raffle.
