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Record-breaking number of finalists confirmed for WA Awards

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Apprenticeships
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A record 38 finalists have been announced for the 2025 º£½Ç»»ÆÞ Apprenticeships (WA) Awards.

The finalists are from across 10 categories recognising apprentices, employers, training providers, mentors and schools, celebrating every aspect of the apprenticeship journey.

2025 also marked the highest number of entries ever received for the º£½Ç»»ÆÞ Apprenticeships Awards.

º£½Ç»»ÆÞ Apprenticeships, which celebrated a decade of operation in 2024, is a grant-funded initiative created by the º£½Ç»»ÆÞ Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) and º£½Ç»»ÆÞ County Council to address the skills and employment needs of the local workforce by supporting apprenticeship growth across the county.

The annual awards evening has become a staple of the business calendar, being delivered to celebrate the very best of all things apprenticeships in º£½Ç»»ÆÞ.

The 2025 º£½Ç»»ÆÞ Apprenticeships Awards will once again take place at the West Midlands Safari Park, this year on Thursday 13 November with over 300 attendees expected. 

Attendees will be treated to award-winning comedian and writer Shazia Mirza as the host of this year’s º£½Ç»»ÆÞ Apprenticeships Awards.

The 2025 award categories

Apprentice Awards

  • Intermediate Level Apprentice of the Year
  • Advanced Level Apprentice of the Year
  • Higher Level Apprentice of the Year
  • Degree Level Apprentice of the Year

Employer Awards

  • Advanced Level Apprentice of the Year
  • Small Apprenticeship Employer of the Year
  • Medium Apprenticeship Employer of the Year
  • Large Apprenticeship Employer of the Year 

Support Awards

  • School of the Year
  • Training Provider of the Year
  • Apprentice Mentor of the Year

The popular celebration event will culminate in the two illustrious overall awards of ‘º£½Ç»»ÆÞ Apprenticeship Employer of the Year’, sponsored by Sanctuary and ‘º£½Ç»»ÆÞ Apprentice of the Year’, sponsored by Seetec.

Councillor Alan Amos, º£½Ç»»ÆÞ County Council Cabinet Member with Responsibility for Business and Skills, said: â€œApprenticeships are absolutely vital to º£½Ç»»ÆÞ’s economy! They give businesses the skilled people they need to succeed and drive our economic growth, plus open up opportunities for our residents to build successful careers. I want to see apprenticeships continue to grow so that º£½Ç»»ÆÞ remains one of the best places in the country to live, work and invest in. I look forward to this year’s awards as a chance to recognise the businesses and apprentices leading the way and to shine a spotlight on the exceptional talent we have across the county.â€

Gary Woodman, Chief Executive of the º£½Ç»»ÆÞ Local Enterprise Partnership, said: “We are delighted to have another record-breaking year of finalists for the º£½Ç»»ÆÞ Apprenticeships Awards after our 10th year celebration, last year. Well done to all those shortlisted. To see the growth in support for apprenticeships in the county is fantastic and I look forward to celebrating the achievements and hard work of all of these finalists in all the categories in November – it’s an event that makes º£½Ç»»ÆÞ a special place.â€

The finalists for the 2025 º£½Ç»»ÆÞ Apprenticeships Awards

Intermediate Level Apprentice of the Year – Sponsored by GLP Training

  • Benjamin Bridge – The Potting Shed
  • Daniel Perks – Sanctuary
  • Dave Bain – Instant Scenery
  • Tyler Bergin-Ruff – Platform Housing Group

Advanced Level Apprentice of the Year – Sponsored by Kidderminster College

  • Amelia Biddle - Mediservices
  • Corey Fox – Platform Housing Group
  • Courtney Richards – Roxel Group
  • Samuel Deverill-Skelding – Amada UK Limited

Higher Level Apprentice of the Year – Sponsored by Platform Housing Group

  • Christopher Hodson – Victim Support
  • Declan King – Ormerod Rutter Chartered Accountants
  • Georgina Carroll – Sanctuary
  • Shay Stevenson – Education Shed

Degree Level Apprentice of the Year – Sponsored by Yamazaki Mazak UK Ltd

  • Charlotte Burford – Ormerod Rutter Chartered Accountants
  • Oscar Bird – Bishop Fleming
  • Naomie Tarver – Herefordshire and º£½Ç»»ÆÞ Health and Care NHS Trust
  • Shalini Lokesh Gowda – Herefordshire and º£½Ç»»ÆÞ Health and Care NHS Trust

Employer Awards

Small Apprenticeship Employer of the Year – Sponsored by Herefordshire & º£½Ç»»ÆÞ Chamber of Commerce

  • Bespoke Advice Limited
  • Fresh Nous
  • Pinfields Accounting
  • Theataaccountants Ltd

Medium Apprenticeship Employer of the Year – Sponsored by West Midlands Apprenticeship Ambassador Network

  • Barrie Beard Ltd
  • GLP Training
  • Ormerod Rutter Chartered Accountants

Large Apprenticeship Employer of the Year – Sponsored by Open GI Ltd

  • Amada UK Limited
  • Bishop Fleming
  • Community Housing
  • Muller

Support Awards

School of the Year – Sponsored by Heart of º£½Ç»»ÆÞ College

  • Hagley Catholic High School
  • Tudor Grange Academy Worcester
  • Worcester Sixth Form College

Training Provider of the Year – Sponsored by Worcester Bosch

  • GLP Training
  • Heart of º£½Ç»»ÆÞ College
  • Herefordshire & º£½Ç»»ÆÞ Group Training Association
  • The Development Manager (TDM)

Apprentice Mentor of the Year – Sponsored by º£½Ç»»ÆÞ Education Business Partnership

  • Adrian Bloomer – Blackwell Adventure
  • Andy Growcott – Yamazaki Mazak UK Ltd
  • Rob Grant – Parkwood Leisure
  • Wendy White – Amada UK Limited

To find out more about the º£½Ç»»ÆÞ Apprenticeships Awards, please visit the º£½Ç»»ÆÞ Apprenticeships website.

Join and follow the conversation around the º£½Ç»»ÆÞ Apprenticeships Awards on social media by using the hashtag #WorcsApprentice.