Pictured (left to right) are: Sarah Marlow, Skills Hub Deputy Manager at OxLEP; Ryan Harris, Regional Director at The Hill Group (headline sponsor); Sarah Jaycock, Co-founder and Executive Director of High Spec Composites (awards host and committee member); Simon Newton, Managing Director of Darke & Taylor (awards host and committee member) and Tiffany Hickman, People Apprentice at Blenheim.
The prestigious awards – now in their ninth year – offer individuals and organisations from around the county the opportunity to highlight the positive role apprenticeships have had on them.
OxLEP Skills – alongside the official Oxfordshire Apprenticeship Awards Committee – have today (21 November) announced that the 2025 Oxfordshire Apprenticeship Awards will be held at the world-renowned Blenheim Palace.
The announcement comes following the continued success of the awards – this year held at Williams Racing’s Experience Centre in Grove – seeing hundreds of the county’s apprenticeship champions recognised for their excellence within their chosen apprenticeship field.
An established occasion in the county’s business calendar, seeing dozens of inspiring individuals, businesses and training providers showcase their excellence in the field of apprenticeships – OxLEP Skills, alongside the wider awards committee, have been recognising apprenticeship talent through the awards for over eight years.
Taking place in one of the most prestigious venues in the world, the 2025 awards are set to take place at the iconic Long Library at Blenheim Palace, itself a World Heritage Site, an attraction for local and global visitors and central to the everyday lives and livelihoods of the neighbouring communities.
Due to its iconic visitor attraction status – hosting thousands of visitors from around the world daily (950,000 visitors came to Blenheim in the year ended March 2020) – employment and skills opportunities are taken seriously at Blenheim, with a 10-year plan in place to employ 100 apprentices in all areas across the estate and development partner Pye Homes.
Alongside acting as a sponsor and supporter for the Oxfordshire Apprenticeship Awards over the years, Blenheim has also had success as a winner, with a total of 30 apprentices being nominated for awards since 2017 – and as an employer, Blenheim were highly commended in the Apprenticeship Employer of the Year Award (250+ employees) category in 2022.
The 2025 awards – and the wider work of OxLEP Skills – aim to highlight the opportunities that apprenticeship schemes can bring not only to young people, but also those looking to re-engage with employment opportunities.
The awards are organised and managed by OxLEP Skills on a not-for-profit basis, with the generous support of a number of sponsoring organisations.
The 2025 headline sponsor is The Hill Group, who will choose the overall Apprentice of the Year from the winners of the five apprentice awards. The award categories are sponsored as follows:
- Intermediate Apprentice of the Year – Abbott Diabetes Care
- Advanced Apprentice of the Year – NielsenIQ
- Higher / Degree Apprentice of the Year – Siemens Healthineers Magnet Technology
- Special Recognition Award – Milestone Infrastructure
- Rising Star Award – Popham Hairdressing
- Shining Star Award – IST INTECH
- Apprenticeship Ambassador Award – Grundon Waste Management
- Inspiring the Future Employer Award – Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust
- Skills Champion Award – The Engineering Trust
- Training Provider Individual Award – Oxford Brookes University
- Apprenticeship Employer of the Year (<250 employees) – Olamalu
- Apprenticeship Employer of the Year (250+ employees) – Assure UK
OxLEP Skills add that they are also grateful to have the support of High Spec Composites, Darke & Taylor, Jonas Software UK & Europe, Oxford North, Activate Learning, the South East Apprenticeship Ambassador Network, Oxfordshire County Council and the University of Oxford.
Nigel Tipple, Chief Executive at OxLEP - said: “Since its inception in 2017 – the Oxfordshire Apprenticeship Awards have provided a significant platform to highlight the importance of apprenticeships within the Oxfordshire economy and its wider labour market.
“OxLEP Skills work tirelessly day-to-day to support apprenticeships – with a team of dedicated Oxfordshire Apprenticeship Advisors in place to support employers to take on apprentices, upskill their existing teams, or pledge unspent apprenticeship levy, through our ‘Apprenticeship Levy Pledge’ initiative.
“We understand however that supporting apprenticeships goes far beyond those initial stages – and the awards are a key way in which we in Oxfordshire can celebrate the outstanding work going on surrounding apprenticeships in the county every day.
“We are particularly excited to announce that the 2025 awards will be held at such a prestigious location – and it is through working with partners around the county, including Blenheim, alongside our wider supporters and sponsors – we hope to continue convening and celebrating apprenticeship success for many years to come.”
Megan Carter, People Director at Blenheim – said: “We are thrilled to host the prestigious Oxfordshire Apprenticeship Awards here at Blenheim - a celebration of exceptional talent across the county.
“This aligns with our ambitious 10-year goal to complete 100 apprenticeships by 2027, showcasing our commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion (EDI). Our apprentices, spanning all ages, backgrounds and career paths -from heritage preservation to catering - are a testament to our dedication to developing skills, nurturing talent and securing the future of our World Heritage Site.”
Tiffany Hickman, People Apprentice at Blenheim - said: “Entering the Oxfordshire Apprenticeship Awards is a fantastic opportunity to reflect on your journey, showcase your achievements, and gain recognition for your hard work and dedication. Winning the Special Recognition Award in 2023 was an incredible moment that highlighted how transformative my apprenticeship has been, opening doors in HR and helping me grow both personally and professionally.
“Being part of the awards not only boosts your confidence but also shines a light on the impact apprenticeships can have on your career and future.”
The awards will open for entries and nominations from today (21 November).
