Southampton: Veolia names its apprentice of the year in the south at House of Commons awards ceremony

Skills minister Nick Boles and Veolia’s senior executive vice-president, Estelle Brachlianoff, have named Veolia’s top apprentice in the south as Joanna Swan, a 31-year-old business and administration apprentice from Southampton.

Swan works as a transport controller in Veolia's Marchwood depot, supporting its facilities in the county and Hampshire County Council’s network of 26 recycling sites.

She has worked with Veolia for 10 years and was put forward for the apprenticeship by her boss Michael Scriven because she wanted to develop her skills.

After completing an NVQ in Business Administration, she is now working on her diploma in the same subject.

Swan said: “It’s amazing how Veolia are offering these opportunities to people already working in the company, not just new recruits. It’s been hard work but I’ve achieved so much.”

Brachlianoff said: “As a two-time winner of the National Vocational Qualifications Employer of the Year award, we see many of our future leaders emerging from our apprenticeship programme which is central to our investment in the company’s long-term development.

“We are also proud to be amongst the leading employers in the development of the new national Trailblazer
higher apprenticeships which are the benchmark for quality training programmes that will anticipate business
needs.”

The awards ceremony was at the House of Commons. Skills Minister Nick Boles MP said: “It’s crucial that employers like Veolia continue supporting high quality apprenticeships which help young people build their skills and help boost the UK’s productivity and prosperity.”