Founded by The Pathway Group, in partnership with the world’s lifelong learning company Pearson, this year’s milestone event represented a powerful moment of reflection, growth, and renewed purpose. Since its inception in 2015, the Awards have engaged more than 3,000 apprentices, 500 employers, and 100 learning providers across every major sector, a remarkable journey of transformation, inclusion, and innovation.
Hosted in London for the first time, the move to the capital signifies the Awards’ growing national impact and expanding mission to engage communities from every region of the UK. The evening was co-hosted by presenter Tommy Sandhu, alongside 2024 Young Professional of the Year and Arup apprentice Santina Bunting.
Opening the evening, Oliver Latham, VP Enterprise, EMEA, Enterprise Learning & Skills at Pearson, said: “I’d like to congratulate all the winners of the Multicultural Apprenticeship Awards. Pearson is proud to be a partner and we actively promote and support apprenticeships in our own business and with customers. Apprenticeships create opportunities for people in all walks of life, and give people the tools they need to make a direct impact in the workplace and realise their potential.”
With over 500 nominations received this year, 152 apprentices, 44 employers, 14 learning providers, 8 universities, and 8 schools were shortlisted, each representing a story of ambition, determination and excellence.
A theme of ‘Resilience’ resonated throughout the evening, as winning apprentices shared powerful journeys of overcoming adversity, from homelessness and life-threatening illness, to personal hardship and systemic barriers.
Amongst the standout winners were:
- Simona Olok Kweya, NatWest Group, winner of Level 3 Apprentice of the Year, whose journey from growing up in a low-income background with no previous banking experience to a trusted Assistant Relationship Manager within six months exemplifies courage and determination.
- Aliea Mahmood, Great Ormond Street Hospital, winner of Health, Medical & Social Care Apprentice of the Year, recognised for her nine-year apprenticeship journey, culminating in her pioneering an AI model predicting kidney failure, the first of its kind in the UK.
- Efan Mutembo, Worldline UK&I, winner of Digital & Technology Apprentice of the Year, for developing the UK’s first rail chatbot and delivering a key role in a multi-million-pound project.
- Zain Ali Khan, McDonald’s, winner of Retail, Hospitality & Tourism Apprentice of the Year, for leading one of the UK’s busiest McDonald’s restaurants with over 100 staff at just 21 years old.
- Adesewa Adetoro, Microsoft, winner of Creative, Media & Marketing Apprentice of the Year, for being a young, neurodiverse woman championing representation and inclusion in tech and marketing through national and corporate engagement and having of a philosophy of “I won’t just sit at the table, I’ll make sure there are more chairs”.
Organisations including AstraZeneca, Royal Mail, BBC, and The University of Wolverhampton were honoured for their outstanding contribution to apprenticeships, while Alperton Community School made history as the first ever School of the Year, recognised for its pioneering programme transforming opportunities for underrepresented students.
Sharon Blyfield OBE, Head of Early Careers and Apprenticeships at Coca-Cola Europacific Partners, received the Overall Commitment to Diversity in Apprenticeships award for her outstanding leadership and advocacy.
The evening culminated in Isha Ahmed, Architectural Assistant Apprentice at WW+P Architects, being crowned Apprentice of the Year 2025. Isha’s trailblazing work in architecture and tireless advocacy for diversity, mentorship, and apprenticeship funding embodies the transformative spirit of the Awards.
Reflecting on the event, Safaraz Ali, Founder of the Multicultural Apprenticeship Awards and CEO of Pathway Group, said:
“As we celebrate ten years of progress, we’re reminded that apprenticeships don’t just change careers, they change lives. Our mission remains to celebrate, elevate and connect talent from every community. Together, we’re building a stronger, fairer, and more inclusive future for all.”
Full List of Winners
Apprentice of the Year 2025 (sponsored by Pearson)
Isha Ahmed – WW+P Architects (London South Bank University)
Commitment to Apprenticeships (sponsored by Multicultural Apprenticeship & Skills Alliance)
Dan Howard (Partnership Development Director at Lifetime Training) & Lucy Hunte (National Programme Manager of Apprenticeships at NHS England)
Overall Contribution to Apprenticeships (sponsored by Pathway Group)
Kirstie Donnelly MBE (CEO of City & Guilds)
Overall Commitment to Diversity in Apprenticeships (sponsored by Pathway Group)
Sharon Blyfield OBE (Head of Early Careers at Coca-Cola Euro Pacific Partners)
Accounting & Finance (sponsored by Kaplan Financial)
Apprentice Winner – Ahmed Ali – Lloyds Banking Group (Kaplan)
Employer Winner – Chaucer Group
Management & Professional Services (sponsored by Mindful Education)
Apprentice Winner – Martin Lin – KPMG (BPP)
Employer Winner – Vialto Partners
Legal Services (sponsored by City Century)
Apprentice Winner – Amina Batool – TLT LLP (BPP)
Charity, Voluntary & Public Services (sponsored by NCFE)
Apprentice Winner – Iqra Jaffary – Broxtowe Borough Council (Damar Training)
Employer Winner – Skills and Education Group
Health, Medical & Social Care (sponsored by Royal Navy)
Apprentice Winner – Aliea Mahmood – Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust (Cambridge Spark)
Employer Winner – AstraZeneca
Construction Services (sponsored by Severn Trent)
Apprentice Winner – Isha Ahmed – WW+P Architects (London South Bank University)
Employer Winner – BAM UK & Ireland
Engineering & Manufacturing (sponsored by JTL Training)
Apprentice Winner – Prithvi Ramesh – Rolls-Royce (UWE Bristol / Weston College)
Employer Winner – E.ON UK
Digital & Technology (sponsored by BT Group)
Apprentice Winner – Efan Mutembo – Worldline UK&I (QA)
Employer Winner – Capgemini
Creative, Media & Marketing (sponsored by Occupational Awards Limited)
Apprentice Winner – Adesewa Adetoro – Microsoft (QA)
Employer Winner – BBC
Retail, Hospitality & Tourism (sponsored by Lifetime Training)
Apprentice Winner – Zain Ali Khan – McDonald’s (Manchester Metropolitan University)
Employer Winner – B&Q
Transport & Logistics (sponsored by British Army)
Apprentice Winner – Yoosuf Riyaldeen – Amazon (University of Roehampton, London / QA)
Employer Winner – Royal Mail
Intermediate Apprentice of the Year (sponsored by Skills & Education Group)
Level 2 Winner – Christian Chukwuemeka Ejimadu – Amazon (Qualitrain)
Level 3 Winner – Simona Olok Kweya – NatWest Group (BPP)
Judges’ Choice (sponsored by Lloyds Banking Group)
Winner – Nuzha Noukri – Visa (QA)
Small, Medium Employer of the Year (sponsored by Amazing Apprenticeships)
Winner – Mahirs Experience
Large Employer of the Year (sponsored by NOCN Group)
Winner – Compass Group UK & Ireland
Learning Provider of the Year (sponsored by the Association of Employment and Learning Providers)
Small Learning Provider Winner – Blackpool and The Fylde College
Large Learning Provider Winner – HIT Training
University of the Year (sponsored by AstraZeneca)
Winner – University of Wolverhampton
School of the Year (sponsored by City & Guilds)
Winner – Alperton Community School
Learn more about the Multicultural Apprenticeship Awards: https://multiculturalapprenticeshipawards.co.uk/
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