Nominations encouraged for this year's Worcestershire Apprenticeship Awards

As part of National Apprenticeship Week, being held this week March 6 to 10, training providers, employers, schools and apprentices are being urged to nominate people for an award, or nominate themselves, by the deadline of June 30.

Tables are now also on sale as well as sponsorship opportunities for the awards which will take place on November 16 at West Midland Safari Park.

The awards, now in its fourth year, have consistently attracted an audience of more than 300 people and were hosted most recently by business owner and winner of the first series of BBC’s The Apprentice, Tim Campbell MBE.

The 2017 Worcestershire Apprenticeship Awards will celebrate 12 awards recognising the county’s most successful apprentices, schools, training providers and apprentice employers.

In the apprentice awards there are awards for school of the year, intermediate level apprentice of the year, advanced level apprentice of the year, higher level apprentice of the year and Worcestershire apprentice of the year.

In the employer awards there are awards for newcomer apprenticeship employer, small apprenticeship employer of the year, medium apprenticeship employer of the year, large apprenticeship employer of the year, apprentice ambassador of the year, training provider of the year and Worcestershire apprenticeship employer of the year.

The two main awards are being sponsored by Yamazaki Mazak (UK) Ltd for Worcestershire Apprenticeship Employer of the Year, and Worcester Bosch Group for Worcestershire Apprentice of the Year.

Confirmed sponsors for other awards include Minster Micro Computers, Worcestershire Business Central and Apprentices in Business (AiB).

Gary Woodman, chief executive of Worcestershire Local Enterprise Partnership, said: “We are delighted to open the nominations for this year’s Worcestershire Apprenticeship Awards.

"The county is home to thousands of fantastic apprenticeship opportunities and the Worcestershire Apprenticeship Awards are a great way to celebrate the achievements of our local apprentices, employers, schools and training providers.

“I would urge all interested parties to submit their nominations and book tables at the earliest opportunity for this highly popular event.”

Councillor Dr Ken Pollock, cabinet member with responsibility for economy, skills and infrastructure at Worcestershire County Council, said: “It is a pleasure to open the nominations for the Worcestershire Apprenticeship Awards 2017.

"In previous years we have been able to recognise the successes of some truly remarkable apprentices and dedicated employers and I am sure we will be celebrating many more success stories again this year.

“The awards really are fantastic for recognising the hard work of all those who are associated with apprenticeships in Worcestershire and I would encourage you all to visit the Worcestershire Apprenticeships website to make your nominations.”

To make a nomination visit worcsapprenticeships.org.uk.