The 15th National Apprenticeship Awards are now open for entries – and several new categories have been announced, including the ‘Recruitment excellence award’.

“It will recognise employers who have attracted a diverse and high-quality apprenticeship workforce through new and innovative approaches to recruitment,” said an Education and Skills Funding Agency spokesperson.

Also new for 2018, is a special recognition award for an individual who has “made a special contribution to the promotion and delivery of apprenticeships” – to be selected by the National Apprenticeship Service.

There will be a ‘Rising star’ award for the first time, to showcase apprentices who have “made impressive progress in their career to date and who show the potential, through their apprenticeship, to take a career path to the very top of their chosen profession”.

Apprentice employers and apprentices from all sectors and industries are invited to enter the awards by the May 25 deadline.

Entrants could be chosen as a regional winner at nine awards ceremonies across the country. A national judging panel will then choose overall national apprenticeship award winners from the regional champions. The national ceremony will take place on November 28.

Charlotte Hughes, a GSK employee and winner of the ‘Higher or degree apprentice of the year’ award in 2017, recommended others to enter this year.

“I am extremely proud to have been a winner. It’s provided a huge boost to my confidence and has helped raise my profile,” said Charlotte, who was interviewed in FE Week’s 2018 National Apprenticeship Week supplement. “The whole process has made me realise what I’m truly capable of. I would encourage anyone that is eligible to apply.”

Tim Brown, managing director of Superior, a Dorset manufacturing firm crowned ‘Medium employer of the year’ in 2017, said the experience had been “unforgettable”.

“It has motivated us to do more and continue raising the profile of apprenticeships,” he said.

“Everyone at Superior is incredibly proud of this fantastic achievement, it has helped us gain positive recognition as an employer that is committed to offering quality apprenticeships and careers to people of all ages and backgrounds.”

Apprentice employers and apprentices are invited to enter the following award categories

Employer of the year categories:

  • SME of the year: 1 – 249 employees
  • Large employer of the year: 250 – 4,999 employees
  • Macro employer of the year: 5,000+ employees
  • The recruitment excellence award: new for 2018, the winner will be selected from the employer of the year award entries

Apprentice of the year categories:

  • Intermediate level (level 2)
  • Advanced level (level 3)
  • Higher or degree level (level 4 or higher)

Special recognition categories:

  • Rising star award: new for 2018, recognises apprentices that have made impressive progress in their career to date, and have the potential to go even further
  • Recognition award: new for 2018, awarded to an individual who has made a special contribution to the promotion and delivery of apprenticeships – to be selected by the National Apprenticeship Service
  • Apprenticeship champion of the year: recognises individuals who go ‘above and beyond’ to champion apprenticeships

Visit https://appawards.co.uk/ to enter.

Caption; The National Apprenticeship Awards finalists for 2017

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