East Midlands employers and apprentices celebrate success
Over 300 finalists and guests from Leicestershire, Derbyshire, Lincolnshire and Rutland, Northamptonshire and Nottinghamshire headed to the East Midlands Conference Centre in Nottingham to see winners in each of the nine categories accept their awards in style.
Tom Crompton, Regional Director, LSC East Midlands, welcomed guests to the award ceremony sponsored by EM Plus, and award sponsors , LANTERN, Rolls Royce, TNG and Training Services 2000 and Train to Gain, With Maggie Philbin, former presenter on the BBC's Tomorrow's World series, and now a BBC radio presenter, playing host for the evening.
Tom Crompton said: "With the Government's recent announcement about Apprenticeships and how they will play a central role in its plans for growing skills in the economy, it's clear to see how vital apprentices and those companies supporting them are in helping to combat the skills shortages across the region. The economy depends upon skilled individuals across the whole spectrum of vocational learning and it is important that we recognise the high achievements in these fields.
"The awards are an opportunity to celebrate just a sample of the excellent results being achieved across the East Midlands. Everyone who has taken part: our learners, training providers and employers should all be very proud of their achievements."
We have just heard that four of our East Midlands finalists have been shortlisted as national finalists and will attend the national ceremony on 10 July at the Royal Horticultural Halls in London. They are:
Kingscliffe Day Nursery, Leicestershire – Employer of the Year (1-9 employees)
Forum Computers, Lincolnshire – Employer of the Year (1-9 employees)
David Jason Khan, Nottinghamshire – Apprentice of the Year
Gemma Barrett, Nottinghamshire - Advanced Apprentice of the Year.
Award Winners
Young Apprentice of the Year Award
Luke Kemp, aged 16, from Grantham, Lincolnshire. Luke is undertaking a Young Apprenticeship in Engineering with Grantham College and worked at BGB Engineering full-time during the school holidays. When he finishes Grantham Church VA High School he plans to follow a career in Computer Aided Design (CAD) and is studying hard to make this happen.
Entry to Employment (e2e) Learner of the Year Award
Denise Dad, aged 19, from Normanton, Derbyshire. Denise has finished an e2e programme with the Carter & Carter Group and has since progressed onto an Access Course at Derby University. After completing her course, Denise hopes to study Psychology at Nottingham Trent University.
Personal Achiever of the Year Award
Sean Butt, aged 23, from Kirkby-in-Ashfield, Nottinghamshire. Sean recently completed an Advanced Apprenticeship in Hairdressing at New College Nottingham. He currently works at Toni & Guy in Mansfield as a head colour technician and is hoping to continue studying to achieve an Advanced L'Oreal Colour Degree to further his career in this field.
Apprentice of the Year Award – Apprenticeship
Sam Barstow, aged 19, from Lincoln. Sam is working towards his Apprenticeship in Business Administration Level 2 at Lincoln College and has recently started working part-time at Lincolnshire Council as a youth development support worker in the anti-social behaviour team.
Apprentice of the Year Award – Advanced Apprenticeship
Gemma Barrett, aged 25, from Mansfield, Nottinghamshire. Gemma recently completed her Advanced Apprenticeship in Hospitality and Supervision with Charnwood Training Consultants in Nottingham. Gemma is the owner of Carol's Cobs – supplying lunch to local businesses and catering for buffets and special events, she currently employs six staff.
Micro Employer of the Year Award
Kingscliffe Day Nursery Limited in Loughborough, Leicestershire. The company currently employs nine people, two of which are undertaking Apprenticeships and a further two who are undertaking Advanced Apprenticeships in Childcare Learning and Development with learning provider TNG in Leicester.
Small Employer of the Year Award, 10-49 Employees
The Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport in Corby, Northamptonshire. The company currently employs 41 people, three of which are undertaking Apprenticeships and a further four who are undertaking Advanced Apprenticeships in either Business Administration or AAT Accounting with learning provider Starting Off in Kettering.
Medium Employer of the Year Award, 50-249 Employees
BGB Engineering in Grantham, Lincolnshire. The company currently employs 72 people, two of which are undertaking Apprenticeships and a further three who are undertaking Advanced Apprenticeships in Engineering with training provider Yes - Grantham College.
Large Employer of the Year Award – Over 250 Employees
Siemens Industrial Turbomachinery Ltd in Lincoln. The company currently employs 2000 people, 68 of which are undertaking Engineering Apprenticeships with learning provider Lincoln College.
Television and radio presenter Maggie Philbin with the regional winners from the LSC East Midlands Apprenticeship Awards.