Apprentices, businesses, education providers and champions of apprenticeships – from right across the county – came together this evening (16 May) for this year’s Oxfordshire Apprenticeship Awards, one of the leading annual business celebration events anywhere in the region.
The spectacular awards – now in its eighth year and organised by OxLEP Skills – saw close to 200 people come together at Williams Racing’s Experience Centre in Grove to celebrate all things apprenticeships. Many more joined the event via a live-stream hosted on OxLEP’s website.
Supported by a business-led committee, the Oxfordshire Apprenticeship Awards aims to champion work-based learning excellence across a breadth of sectors. This year, the event saw winners announced from 13 categories, all of which it is hoped will act as a major inspiration to businesses, encouraging them to explore what an apprentice could bring to their respective companies.
The headline sponsor for this year’s awards was Oxford North – other awards sponsors included Grundon, Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust, Blenheim & Pye Homes, Milestone Infrastructure, Abbott Diabetes Care, IST INTECH, Hill, The Engineering Trust, Oxford Professional Education, Assure UK and Owen Mumford.
The awards were hosted by Simon Newton – Joint Managing Director of Darke & Taylor – and Sarah Jaycock, Executive Director of High Spec Composites.
OxLEP also welcomed David Johnston OBE, the MP for Wantage and Didcot, and Minister for Children, Families and Wellbeing. Mr Johnston gave an opening address at the event.
You can watch them again via the OxLEP YouTube channel, or below.
WATCH AGAIN: Oxfordshire Apprenticeship Awards 2024.
Below is a full list of this year’s winners and highly-commended finalists:
Intermediate Apprentice of the Year Award
Sponsored by Grundon
Winner:
- Joshua Jones, Highways Operative, Milestone Infrastructure
Highly commended:
- Liv Chapman, Apprentice Hairdresser, Popham Hairdressing Ltd
- Lucy Parsons, Apprentice Finance and Accounting Technician, University of Oxford
Advanced Apprentice of the Year Award
Sponsored by Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust
Winner:
- Henry Fletcher, Apprentice Carpenter, Parker Turnbull Developments Limited
Highly commended:
- Angel Branker, Apprentice Laboratory Technician, University of Oxford
- Isaac Pylee, Ground Operations Apprentice, works for an airline
Higher Apprentice of the Year Award
Sponsored by Blenheim & Pye Homes
Winner:
- Cecilia Sofia Badiale, Architect, Ridge and Partners LLP
Highly commended:
- Thomas Renault, Data and Performance Analyst, Milestone Infrastructure
- Aaron Robinson, Rail Degree Apprentice, Amey Consulting
Special Recognition Award
Sponsored by Milestone Infrastructure
Winner:
- Anna Christopher, Apprentice Business Administrator, University of Oxford
Highly commended:
- Jay Formento, Ward Administrator, Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust
- Jack Paviour, Administrative Officer – Digital Infrastructure Team, Oxfordshire County Council
Rising Star Award
Sponsored by Abbott Diabetes Care
Winner:
- George Soanes, Apprentice Laboratory Technician, LTi Metaltech Ltd / Metaltest
Highly commended:
- Gail Fennymore, Rehabilitation Assistant, Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust
- Rhian Mayer, Adult Mental Health Time and Recovery Support Worker, Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust
Shining Star Award
Sponsored by IST INTECH
Winner:
- Nairne Barker, Strategic Apprenticeship Lead, Oxfordshire County Council
Highly commended:
- Jade Brooker, Audit Manager / Practice Manager, Assure UK
- Daniel Reid, Business and Programme Support Officer, Oxfordshire County Council
Apprenticeship Ambassador Award
Sponsored by Hill
Finalists:
- Grace Dawson, EPA Coordinator, Explosive Learning Solutions
Highly commended:
- Max Evans, Apprentice Recruitment Assistant, University of Oxford
- Jack Paviour, Administrative Officer – Digital Infrastructure Team, Oxfordshire County Council
Careers Champion Award
Sponsored by The Engineering Trust
Winner:
- Hannah Gordon, Careers Leader, Fitzwaryn School
Highly commended:
- Hayley Laughlin, Post-14 Lead, Bardwell School
- Jessica Manns, Careers Lead, Subject Lead of History & Humanities Teacher, Greyfriars Catholic School
Inspiring the Future Award
Sponsored by Oxford Professional Education
Winner:
- Abbott Diabetes Care
Highly commended:
- Oxford Playhouse Trust
- Morgan Sindall Construction
Training Provider Individual Award
Sponsored by NielsenIQ
Winner:
- Mark Dickson, Apprentice Trainer, MTC Training Ltd
Highly commended:
- Heidi Silvester, College Director / Tutor / Assessor, Oxford International College of Beauty
- Justin Merritt, CEO / Director, Ignite Training
Apprenticeship Employer of the Year (<250 Employees) Award
Sponsored by Assure UK
Winner:
- Olamalu
Highly commended:
- Edgars
- PMC
Apprenticeship Employer of the Year (250+ Employees) Award
Sponsored by Owen Mumford
Winner:
- Milestone Infrastructure
Highly commended:
- Oxfordshire County Council
- University of Oxford
Apprentice of the Year
Sponsored by Oxford North
Winners:
- Cecilia Sofia Badiale, Architect, Ridge and Partners LLP
- Joshua Jones, Highways Operative, Milestone Infrastructure
