The three previous winners of Worcestershire’s Apprentice of the Year awards are encouraging local apprentices to enter this year’s Worcestershire Apprenticeship Awards 2017, with the 30 June deadline now fast approaching.
Since winning their respective Worcestershire Apprentice of the Year awards, Pippa Dressler-Pearson, Victoria Rawlings and Ryan Shemwell have all experienced hugely successful starts to their careers, and are now urging local apprentices to enter the Worcestershire Apprenticeship Awards 2017.
Pippa Dressler-Pearson, Project Technician at Southco, said: “Winning Apprentice of the Year 2016/17 has opened my eyes in so many ways. This kind of opportunity does not come round that often. So, I decided that I wanted to try and make a difference for future apprentices, their parents, and teachers. I have conducted interviews with influential people and companies throughout Worcestershire, to de-bunk the myths around apprenticeships. This has proven very successful with the feedback I receive from each blog I write. I’ve also been offered a full time position as Project Technician at Southco, and gone on to win the prestigious SEMTA (Science, Engineering, Manufacturing Technologies Alliance) Best of British Engineering Award.”
Victoria Rawlings, Relationship Manager at Titania, said: “Since winning Worcestershire’s Apprentice of the Year 2015, a lot has changed. Whilst at TRS Claims, I successfully obtained some substantial contracts with the UK’s largest insurers which set the benchmark for the gadget insurance market. This hard work had me recognised as one of The Rising Stars at The Claims Awards and Young Woman in Business for Wonderful Worcestershire Women. Wanting a new challenge, I recently joined Cyber Security Company Titania, who was announced as a 2017 recipient of the Queen’s Award for Innovation, the highest official award that can be bestowed on a UK business.”
Ryan Shemwell, UK Operations Manager at Green Lighting Ltd, said: “Life is busy for me since I won Worcester apprentice of the year in 2014, educationally I have completed a HND in Business Management at Birmingham City University and just commenced a Higher Apprenticeship in Management with Heart of Worcestershire college. I have remained at Green Lighting and have been promoted to UK Operations Manager. We have continued to win awards achieving ‘Highly Commended’ at the regionally national apprenticeships, a Queens’s award for innovation, plus I was honoured to be invited to St James Palace as part of the Princess Royal inaugural training awards. Winning has assisted me in forging a successful career.”
Tables are on sale for the awards which are being hosted by Worcestershire LEP and Worcestershire County Council on 16 November 2017 at West Midland Safari Park.
The Worcestershire Apprenticeship Awards, now in its fourth year, has consistently attracted an audience of over 300 attendees, with hosts including Nick Hewer, Steph McGovern and Tim Campbell MBE.
The 2017 Worcestershire Apprenticeship Awards will recognise excellence in 12 categories:
Apprentice Awards
School of the year – sponsored by Careers and Enterprise Company
Intermediate Level Apprentice of the year – sponsored by Titania
Advanced Level Apprentice of the year – sponsored by Southco Manufacturing Ltd
Higher Level Apprentice of the year – sponsored by Morgan Motor Company
Worcestershire Apprentice of the year (main apprentice award) – sponsored by Worcester Bosch Group
Employer Awards
Newcomer Apprenticeship Employer – sponsored by Vestia
Small Apprenticeship Employer of the year (< 50 employees) – sponsored by Herefordshire & Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce
Medium Apprenticeship Employer of the year (> 50 employees) – sponsored by WBL Consultancy
Large Apprenticeship Employer of the year (> 250 employees) – sponsored by Sanctuary Group
Apprentice Ambassador of the Year – sponsored by the Heartbeat – The Training Academy
Training Provider of the Year – sponsored by Worcestershire Training Providers Association
Worcestershire Apprenticeship Employer of the Year (main employer award) – sponsored by Yamazaki Mazak UK Ltd.
Once again, the two overall 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.
For more information about apprenticeships locally and to nominate for this year’s Worcestershire Apprenticeship Awards before the 30 June 2017 deadline, visit the Worcestershire Apprenticeships website.
Completed nominations and table bookings for the awards should be sent to awardsnominations@worcestershire.gov.uk
Join the conversation on Twitter using #WorcsApprentice.
Pictured (L to R): The three previous winners of Worcestershire Apprentice of the Year, Victoria Rawlings (2015), Pippa Dressler-Pearson (2016), Ryan Shemwell (2014)