[slideshow_deploy id=’40567′] Dozens of high achieving apprentices and employers have been recognised at National Apprenticeship Awards ceremonies across England. The events for London (pictured above), the South West, North West (including Liverpool, Cumbria and Lancashire), Yorkshire and the Humber, West Midlands, and North East took place between Thursday (October 8) and yesterday (October 15). It is understood that awards and special commendations went to 47 apprentices and 53 employers. Speaking after the North East ceremony at the Discovery Museum, in Newcastle, yesterday, Skills Minister Nick Boles said: “From local businesses to large household names, from intermediate to degree apprentices, all of today’s winners truly deserve this recognition. “The success of each winner reminds us of how crucial apprenticeships are in supporting our workforce, our businesses and our economy. “This is why we are committed to delivering 3m apprenticeships by 2020.” The awards celebrate the success of the country’s highest achieving apprentices and apprenticeship employers. More outstanding apprentices and employers will be recognised in ceremonies for the South East, on Wednesday (October 21), North West (including Manchester, Cheshire and Staffordshire), on Thursday (October 22), Thames Valley and Solent, on Thursday (October 22), East of England, on Tuesday (October 27), and East Midlands, on Thursday (October 29). Sue Husband, director of the National Apprenticeship Service, said that the awards, now in their 12th year, “enable talented apprentices and committed employers to receive the recognition they richly deserve”. “They not only help celebrate the achievements of apprentices and businesses, allowing them to gain the credit for investing in their own futures, but they drive up quality and encourage others to get involved,” she added. Here are the winners and highly commended entries: Yorkshire and the Humber Winners: McDonald’s Award for Intermediate Apprentice of the Year: Karolina Polniaszek, Superdrug EAL Award for Advanced Apprentice of the Year: April Bell, Monica F Hewitt City & Guilds Apprenticeship Champion of the Year: Martin Kennedy, Portakabin Ltd The E.ON in partnership with the National Skills Academy for Power Award for Medium Employer of the Year: Genix Healthcare Ltd BAE Systems Award for Large Employer of the Year: Portakabin Ltd BT Award for Macro Employer of the Year: Lloyds Banking Group EDF Energy Award for Newcomer SME of the Year: Sheffield Media and Exhibition Centre Limited Highly Commended: Kathrine Rundell, Third Energy UK Gas Ltd Ruby Magson, Hemingway Bailey Matthew Weeks, Bluefin Insurance Services Yorkshire Coast Homes Margaret & Michael Naylor & Associates Wakefield Council Yorkshire WaterHull City Council West Midlands Winners: Mcdonald’s Award for Intermediate Apprentice of the Year: Kathleen Sandford, the Community Housing Group EAL Award for Advanced Apprentice of the Year: Joshua White, IBM The Nuclear Decommissioning Site Licence Companies Award for the Higher Apprentice of the Year: Stephanie Palmer, Fujitsu Unilever Small Employer of the Year: ISO Quality Services Ltd BAE Systems Award for Large Employer of the Year: Redrow Homes BT Award for Macro Employer of the Year: Compass Group UK & Ireland EDF Energy Award for Newcomer SME of the Year: eTech Solutions Ltd Rolls-Royce Award for Newcomer Large Employer of the Year: Highways England Highly Commended: Bethany Griffin, Sanctuary Housing Association Ryan Shemwell, Green Lighting Ltd. Hannah Scott, Jaguar Landrover Andrew Morley, Jaguar Landrover Green Lighting Ltd The Community Housing Group The Landscape Group Jaguar Land Rover ltd Halfords Ltd (Retail) Black Country Partnership NHS Foundation Trust North West Winners: McDonald’s Award for Intermediate Apprentice of the Year: Adam Huddleston, Dr Oetker UK Ltd EAL Award for Advanced Apprentice of the Year: Paul Haynes, BAE Systems (Submarines) The Nuclear Decommissioning Site Licence Companies Award for the Higher Apprentice of the Year: Joanne Sharples, BAE Systems City & Guilds Apprenticeship Champion of the Year: Poppy Wolfarth, Asset Training and Consultancy Ltd Unilever Small Employer of the Year: Prima Software Ltd The E.ON in partnership with the National Skills Academy for Power Award for Medium Employer of the Year: A & G Precision and Sons Ltd. BAE Systems Award for Large Employer of the Year: Silentnight Brands BT Award for Macro Employer of the Year: Sellafield Ltd EDF Energy Award for Newcomer SME of the Year: Driscolls Antiques Ltd Highly Commended: Jacqueline Whitehead, Plus Dane Group India Ratcliffe, Loungy Upholstery Ltd, Craig Eccles, Paradigm Precision Natassia Sinclair, Weightmans LLP Hannah Bell, GlaxoSmithKline Natalie Roberts, Merseyside Police Liam Hogan, Cathy at Image Hair and Beauty Arthur Padgett Limited Weightmans LLP Unilever UK Limited Aintree University Hospital Eden Rivers Trust South West Winners: McDonald’s Award for Intermediate Apprentice of the Year: Odette Carroll, Brunelcare EAL Award for Advanced Apprentice of the Year: Jonathan Taylor, Alcoa Power & Propulsion The Nuclear Decommissioning Site Licence Companies Award for the Higher Apprentice of the Year: Malgorzata Barzowska, level 3, Airbus UK City & Guilds Apprenticeship Champion of the Year: Hayley Barnden, Defence Equipment and Support, Ministry of Defence Unilever Small Employer of the Year: Beauty Oasis Spa The E.ON in partnership with the National Skills Academy for Power Award for Medium Employer of the Year: River Cottage Ltd BAE Systems Award for Large Employer of the Year: South West Water Limited EDF Energy Award for Newcomer SME of the Year: Vector 7 Highly Commended: Meghan Callaghan, L J Boyce Ltd Jessica Herbert, Rolls Royce Plc Tom Heal, ME and WJ Heal Andrew Cooper, GKN Aerospace The Seafood Restaurant Plymouth City Council London Winners: McDonald’s Award for Intermediate Apprentice of the Year: Maria Dare-Ojo, Compass Group UK and Ireland LTD EAL Award for Advanced Apprentice of the Year: Lauren Tiller, BT The Nuclear Decommissioning Site Licence Companies Award for the Higher Apprentice of the Year: Sean Norgate, BT City & Guilds Apprenticeship Champion of the Year: Joshua Uwadiae, eCourier BAE Systems Award for Large Employer of the Year: Breyer Group plc Rolls-Royce Award for Newcomer Large Employer of the Year: UBS Wealth Management The E.ON in partnership with the National Skills Academy for Power Award for Medium Employer of the Year: Troup Bywaters + Anders BT Award for Macro Employer of the Year: BAE Systems Plc Unilever Small Employer of the Year: Keybridge IT Solutions Highly Commended: James Manning, ASDA Home Shopping Centre Aaron Barrett, Breyer Group Plc Naim Hamade, BT Gabriele Power, Channel 4 Television Corporation Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health Lancaster London Barclays Bank plc IBM UK Ltd. Sweett Group PLC Haymarket Media North East Winners: McDonald’s Award for Intermediate Apprentice of the Year: Ryan Davies, South Tees -Hospitals NHS Trust EAL Award for Advanced Apprentice of the Year: Matthew Collins, Proctor and Gamble The Nuclear Decommissioning Site Licence Companies Award for the Higher Apprentice of the Year: Nathan Charrada, Proctor and Gamble City & Guilds Award for Apprenticeship Champion of the Year: George Ritchie MBE, PX Limited EON and The National Skills Academy for Power Award for Medium Employer of the Year: Sotech Limited BAE Systems Award for Large Employer of the Year: Gestamp EDF Energy Award for Newcomer SME of the Year: PROPS North East Highly Commended: Ryan Hepple, TW Steam and Heating Ltd Victoria English, Caterpillar Peterlee Ltd Bethany Cross, Northumberland Fire and Rescue Stephen Gowland, Ils solicitors Caterpillar Peterlee Ltd