Young learners are filled with passion and enthusiasm, ready to take on the world. But, with volatile job markets and increasing cost of living, more than just ambition is needed nowadays.
Thanks to business and organisations offering impressive apprenticeship opportunities and young people putting in the hard work to succeed, and are places of thriving talent.
On April 5, a prestigious panel of judges gathered to decide the shortlist for this year's - and there's no doubt that they were impressed.
The event recognises and rewards the partnerships creating success within the region, culminating in a special ceremony on Tuesday, May 17 at the Ashton Gate Stadium in Bristol where the outstanding apprentices, judges, local providers and employers can network and celebrate together.
Tickets cost £55 + VAT per person or £495 + VAT for a table of 10 - visit the for more information.
Here's what some of the judges had to say about our local talent.
The quality
Adam Rooke, director, , said: "We’ve been judging the awards for two years now and I have to say that we were blown away by the quality of the applications this year. They just keep getting better and better. I love hearing about the amazing things apprentices are doing in our region and they continue to make more of an impact every year.
"The event itself is always extremely moving, inspiring with a really fun atmosphere. It’s so nice to be able to shout about apprenticeships and the positive things that are happening locally."
Most Read
The sentiment was reiterated by Paul Bentley, assessor at : "I was impressed by the quality of the entries. They showed the levels of daily work and, importantly, the extra tasks apprentices carry out, proving that an apprenticeship is a positive addition to the workforce."
The stories
“I always love the personal aspect to the entries. The stories and journeys that lead the applicants to and through their apprenticeships," Russell Smith, managing director of said.
"Having done this for a good number of years now you realise that the journeys are not always smooth, but with the right guidance and support they can succeed and come away with a great qualification and foundation for a fulfilling career in so many different environments.
"I am looking forward to the whoops and cheers that accompany the winners to the stage to receive their well-deserved awards."
The achievements
The triumphs of the apprentices is what impressed Leanne Polis-Smith the most, the apprenticeship programme manager for construction at .
She said: "I was most impressed by the outstanding achievements of all of the entries and their commitment to learning new knowledge, skills and behaviours for their apprenticeships.
"We are very fortunate in Bristol and Bath to have so many outstanding entries from across many different industries. I am looking forward to meeting the finalists with their employers and hearing first hand about their achievements."
Don’t miss
Tracie Leahy, head of traineeships and apprenticeships at agreed: "Some categories were of a really high standard, they showed the dedication and passion that apprentices have in their learning and development, with apprentices being proud of showcasing the impact they have made within their job roles – it is really impressive to read."
Also on the judging panel and helping to make the shortlist of successful finalists was:
- Luke Tooze, Avonmouth EM+I manager,
- Neil Harris, head of apprenticeships,
- Carina Wills, director,
- Andrew Arthur, BusinessLive
Join the event on May 17 at the Ashton Gate Stadium by clicking . Tickets cost £55 + VAT per person or £495 + VAT for a table of 10. |
The awards and their sponsors are:
- BristolLive & BathLive Apprentice of the Year
- Outstanding Contribution to Apprenticeships in Bristol and Bath -
- Gloucestershire Apprenticeship Training Provider of the Year -
- Small - Medium Employer of the Year (1 to 249 employees) -
- Large Employer of the Year (250+ employees) -
- Outstanding Apprentice of the Year in...
- Construction -
- Health, Wellbeing and Care -
- Public Services and Education
- Engineering, Manufacturing, Energy and Electrical -
- Hospitality, Travel and Customer Service -
- Business, Administrative and Financial Services -
- Technology, Digital and Creative Sector -
Young Recruit -