Apprentice Excellence Awards Evening shines a spotlight on outstanding talent
The Apprentice Excellence Awards captured a landmark moment for AWE’s Emerging Talent community, as the team recently hosted its first Apprentice Excellence Awards Evening.
Bringing together apprentices, mentors, training staff and senior leaders, the event celebrated achievements across every stage of the apprenticeship journey, recognising the dedication and impact of AWE’s future talent.
Celebrating excellence across the programme
The response from across the organisation was outstanding, with more than 160 nominations submitted by line managers, mentors and training teams.
These nominations represent a thriving community of over 400 apprentices currently on programme, highlighting the strength and depth of talent developing across AWE.
Awards were presented across four key trade categories: Intermediate, Advanced, Higher and Degree level apprenticeships.
In addition, specialist awards recognised individuals demonstrating exceptional personal and professional qualities, including Safety Champion, Resilience, Academic Achiever and Mentor of the Year.
Inspiring the next generation
A highlight of the evening came from guest speaker Kamal Ellis-Hyman, founder of Aim a Little Higher. His high-energy and motivational talk encouraged apprentices to believe in their potential and strive to become the best version of themselves, creating an uplifting and inspiring atmosphere for all in attendance.
A poignant moment of recognition
One of the most powerful moments of the evening was the presentation of a Special Recognition Award to Andy Salter, Skills Academy Training Manager.
With more than 40 years dedicated to apprentice training and recently being awarded a British Empire Medal (BEM) for his service, Andy was recognised for his profound and lasting impact on the academy and generations of learners.
A celebration of community and achievement
The evening was hosted by Kerry Thompson, Head of Emerging Talent, with members of the executive team presenting awards to winners across all categories
“A huge congratulations to all our winners, finalists, and everyone who received a nomination. Your hard work, dedication, and commitment to excellence are what make our apprentices such an inspiring community. Whether you took home an award or were recognised through a nomination, you should feel incredibly proud of your achievements.”
Kerry Thompson, Head of Emerging Talent
Establishing a new annual highlight
The inaugural Apprentice Excellence Awards Evening has set a strong precedent for the future.
More than just a celebration of achievement, the event highlighted the values that underpin AWE’s apprenticeship programmes. With such impressive engagement and inspiring stories, the awards evening is now firmly established as a new annual highlight in the Early Careers calendar.
