The shortlisted finalists have been announced for the sixth annual Oxfordshire Apprenticeship Awards 2022.
More than 20 apprentices, businesses and education providers from across the county are now eagerly awaiting to hear if they have been named amongst the winners, which will be announced at the special ceremony taking place next month on 19 May.
The awards will once again shine a light on apprenticeship successes from across Oxfordshire, bringing together young people, businesses and those driving-forward apprenticeships in the county.
Organised by OxLEP Skills, the awards will recognise work-based learning excellence across a breadth of sectors – from engineering to education – in a virtual ceremony, broadcast live via the OxLEP website.
Government figures show that there were well over 3,000 apprenticeship starts within Oxfordshire in 2021/22 and over 1,500 apprenticeship achievements. The Oxfordshire Apprenticeship Awards will spotlight the inspiring stories and people behind these figures.
More than 20 exceptional apprentices or apprenticeship ‘champions’ have been announced as finalists, with over 20 organisations set to be represented across all award categories.
Earlier this month, the Government Minister for Skills emphasised the importance of apprenticeships in addressing the national skills shortage and providing ‘ladders to a good career’. Ahead of next month’s event, OxLEP’s chief executive has reflected upon the vital role of apprenticeships in Oxfordshire’s post-Covid recovery, for young people and businesses alike.
Nigel Tipple – Chief Executive of OxLEP – said: “Apprenticeships have been integral to the UK’s skills system for many years, offering young people an established pathway to a range of compelling vocational careers and ensuring businesses play an active role in training and nurturing this future talent.
“Within Oxfordshire, apprentices are a vital contributor to our capabilities and productivity within key sectors, including health, manufacturing, and the visitor economy to name but a few sectors. As the impact of Covid-19 continues to be felt by the business community, it’s more important than ever that we highlight the positive impact of these schemes, and the support available to businesses.
“The 2022 Oxfordshire Apprenticeship Awards are the perfect moment to not only celebrate individual successes, but also inspire young people and employers across the county to begin their apprenticeship journey.”
This year’s event is headline sponsored by The Fiona Wheeler Charitable Foundation, which was established in memory of Fiona Wheeler, co-founder of the West Oxfordshire-based boutique client law firm, The Burnside Partnership.
Fiona – who believed passionately in supporting young people in their careers and was instrumental in establishing The Burnside Partnership's apprenticeship programme – sadly died in December 2019, aged 35 after a long and courageous battle with illness.
A full list of award finalists are as follows:
Careers Champion Award: Sponsored by The Engineering Trust
School / College Engagement Award: Sponsored by Harwell Science and Innovation Campus
Training Provider Individual Award: Sponsored by Owen Mumford
Intermediate Apprentice of the Year Award: Sponsored by Abbott Diabetes Care
Advanced Apprentice of the Year Award: Sponsored by NielsenIQ
Higher Apprentice of the Year Award: Sponsored by Oxfordshire Advanced Skills
Special Recognition Award: Sponsored by Blenheim and Pye Homes
Apprenticeship Employer of the Year (less than 250 employees) Award: Sponsored by Assure UK
Apprenticeship Employer of the Year (more than 250 employees) Award: Sponsored by Oxford North
Shining Star Award: Sponsored by Integration Technology Ltd
Oxfordshire Apprentice of the Year Award: Sponsored by The Fiona Wheeler Charitable Foundation
The Oxfordshire Apprenticeship Awards takes place on Thursday 19 May from 7pm.
Watch the event live on 19 May and find out more on the awards
You can also follow the awards on social media via: #OAAwards2022.
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