The ninth annual Oxfordshire Apprenticeship Awards will once again shine a spotlight on our county’s apprentices – and the businesses and organisations, training providers and schools that support their journey – recognising the huge contribution they make to our county’s economy at a special awards ceremony on Thursday 22 May 2025 at Blenheim Palace.

We’re delighted to introduce The Engineering Trust as sponsor of the Skills Champion Award, which will recognise individuals who make a significant contribution to promoting apprenticeships and other vocational training routes, such as school/college careers professionals or teachers, business volunteers, work coaches and Enterprise Advisers.

Here, Mark Vingoe, CEO of The Engineering Trust, explains why the Trust has chosen to sponsor this award and what apprenticeships mean to them.

Why are you supporting the Oxfordshire Apprenticeship Awards and why you have chosen to sponsor your particular category?

The Engineering Trust has been promoting engineering apprenticeships and training in Oxfordshire and surrounding areas since its inception 40 years ago. We work within schools/colleges and organisations focusing on raising awareness about engineering apprenticeships. Our aim is to widen the landscape of apprenticeship opportunities available and to fill skill gaps for engineering businesses.

The Oxfordshire Apprenticeship Awards provides an excellent platform to showcase the remarkable contributions made by businesses and individuals who are driving career development via apprenticeships and vocational training. Through our sponsorship, we aim to support and recognise the exceptional work being done to develop a skilled workforce in Oxfordshire.

The Skills Champion Award complements our mission and is a fantastic opportunity to celebrate the hard work of individuals who provide information, advice and guidance to those seeking their next step in their education and/or career.

What are you looking for in the winner of your category?

We’re looking for someone who listens to and tailors their guidance to each person they advise. They will have the enthusiasm and drive to provide opportunities for those they work with, promoting, guiding or enabling the development of skills.

They should be able to give examples of who and how they have helped people find the right career or training to develop their skills.

What would you say to anyone thinking about entering or nominating?

There is a lot of great work already being done by some dedicated people within a whole range of organisations. Those who give brilliant advice and guidance are notoriously bad at celebrating their own success and they should be valued and recognised as ‘Skills Champion’. Such individuals just see it as ‘part of their job’, when in fact, they have a profound impact steering people into a career or training that sets them up for life. If you are that person, put your hand up and enter yourself. If you know that person, then nominate them as they probably just think ‘it’s just what I do’.

Tell us about your organisation’s experience of apprenticeships

The Engineering Trust was set up as a charity with the goal of promoting careers in engineering and manufacturing. Much of the work we do is in schools and colleges, working with career advisors, teachers and students providing information, advice and guidance about the routes into engineering. The Engineering Trust fulfils its charitable objectives through this work and via its subsidiary company Engineering Trust Training Ltd (ETT).

ETT delivers engineering, manufacturing and maintenance apprenticeships within Oxfordshire and surrounding counties. The Engineering Skills Academy (TESA), our training facility in Bicester, focusses on further enhancing the quality of apprenticeship delivery and offers local employers a provision dedicated to training their existing and future workforce. ETT works with a diverse set of companies designing bespoke apprenticeship programmes that are beneficial for all involved.

About the awards

The awards will be open for entries and nominations until midnight on the evening of Monday 24 February 2025. Finalists will be announced during Oxfordshire Apprenticeships Hour (hashtag #OAHour) across the OxLEP Skills social media channels from 13:00 on Thursday 24 April 2025. Winners will be announced at a special awards ceremony on Thursday 22 May 2025.

If you would like the opportunity to support the awards, please get in touch.

Join us for Oxfordshire Apprenticeships Hour (#OAHour) on X @OxonApprentice from 13:00-14:00 every Thursday for latest on the Awards and join in the conversation using the hashtag #OAAwards2025.

The ninth annual Oxfordshire Apprenticeship Awards will once again shine a spotlight on our county’s apprentices – and the businesses and organisations, training providers and schools that support their journey – recognising the huge contribution they make to our county’s economy at a special awards ceremony on Thursday 22 May 2025 at Blenheim Palace.

We’re delighted to introduce NielsenIQ – a 30,000-strong global team that helps retail trading partners understand the complex consumer landscape through data, analytics and technology – as sponsor of the Advanced Apprentice of the Year Award. This award will recognise level 3 apprentices who have been in post for at least 9 months and have excelled in their work, learning and development and made exceptional contributions to their workplaces.

Here, Maya Davidson, a Level 6 Apprentice at NielsenIQ, explains why they have chosen to sponsor this award and what apprenticeships mean to them.

Why are you supporting the Oxfordshire Apprenticeship Awards and why you have chosen to sponsor your particular category?

The Oxfordshire Apprenticeship Awards have been a great way of showcasing the amazing talent and hard work apprentices do around the Oxfordshire area. We are sponsoring the Advanced Apprentice of the Year Award as we want to do our part in recognising the individuals who go above and beyond and excel within in the educational setting.

What are you looking for in the winner of your category?

We are looking for an individual who has exceptional feedback from their peers and teachers, is dedicated to their development and shows genuine passion and commitment towards apprenticeships and their own journey.

What would you say to anyone thinking about entering or nominating?

We highly encourage anyone thinking about entering or nominating, to do so. The awards offer a fantastic platform to showcase what apprentices in the Oxfordshire area are achieving and demonstrate support for young people, which encourages other employers to do the same in their businesses.

Tell us about your organisation’s experience of apprenticeships

We launched our first apprenticeship programme in 2014 with our first Level 5 apprenticeship in Business Innovation and Growth. After 3 successful years and 3 outstanding cohorts of apprentices who transitioned into live roles around the business, we decided to evolve our apprenticeship programme to not only meet the needs of our business but also to build upon the legacy the apprentices established with the Level 5 apprenticeship.

In 2015 we launched our first Level 3 programme in Business Administration with 4 apprentices beginning their career within our Client Service Online team. In line with evolving our Level 5 to Level 6 programme, in 2018 we launched a new Level 3 in Customer Service with the Client Service Online team with two new apprentices joining the business.

In 2017 we launched our first, degree level apprenticeship which saw 10 new apprentices joining Nielsen where they will complete three year rotations around the business whilst studying for a BA (hons) Degree in Business and Management practice.

About the awards

The awards will be open for entries and nominations until midnight on the evening of Monday 24 February 2025. Finalists will be announced during Oxfordshire Apprenticeships Hour (hashtag #OAHour) across the OxLEP Skills social media channels from 13:00 on Thursday 24 April 2025. Winners will be announced at a special awards ceremony on Thursday 22 May 2025.

If you would like the opportunity to support the awards, please get in touch.

Join us for Oxfordshire Apprenticeships Hour (#OAHour) on X @OxonApprentice from 13:00-14:00 every Thursday for latest on the Awards and join in the conversation using the hashtag #OAAwards2025.

The ninth annual Oxfordshire Apprenticeship Awards will once again shine a spotlight on our county’s apprentices – and the businesses and organisations, training providers and schools that support their journey – recognising the huge contribution they make to our county’s economy at a special awards ceremony on Thursday 22 May 2025 at Blenheim Palace.

We’re delighted to introduce Siemens Healthineers Magnet Technology as a sponsor of the Higher / Degree Apprentice of the Year Award, which will recognise level 4 and above apprentices who have excelled in their work, learning and development and made exceptional contributions to their workplaces.

Siemens Healthineers is a medical technology company that develops products and services to help healthcare providers improve patient care.

Here, Alex Rowland, Learning & Development Manager, explains why Siemens Healthineers have chosen to sponsor the awards and what apprenticeships mean to them.

Why are you supporting the Oxfordshire Apprenticeship Awards and why you have chosen to sponsor your particular category?

What a perfect way to highlight and celebrate the great work organisations do in Oxfordshire to ensure apprenticeships are at the forefront of early careers programs and development programs in general. Seeing the amazing work and effort our own apprentices put in we’re really excited to sponsor this category this year.

What are you looking for in the winner of your category?

Someone with a real passion for their work and learning. Someone that has excelled in their studies/work and that displays the right attitudes and behaviours living and breathing their company values.

What would you say to anyone thinking about entering or nominating?

A huge ‘do it’! As a community we must become accustomed to celebrating success – far too often we class activity as just being part of the day job. Highlighting achievements and celebrating accordingly is like a muscle – as businesses we must continue to use that muscle!

Tell us about your organisation’s experience of apprenticeships

For many years we have recruited and celebrated apprentices within our business. Many of these individuals are now in established roles at our facility and their apprenticeships are the platform that has allowed them to do this.

We are now expanding our offering in addition to the traditional manufacturing apprenticeships to ensure this program is run throughout our business.

About the awards

The awards will be open for entries and nominations until midnight on the evening of Monday 24 February 2025. Finalists will be announced during Oxfordshire Apprenticeships Hour (hashtag #OAHour) across the OxLEP Skills social media channels from 13:00 on Thursday 24 April 2025. Winners will be announced at a special awards ceremony on Thursday 22 May 2025.

If you would like the opportunity to support the awards, please get in touch.

Join us for Oxfordshire Apprenticeships Hour (#OAHour) on X @OxonApprentice from 13:00-14:00 every Thursday for latest on the Awards and join in the conversation using the hashtag #OAAwards2025.

The ninth annual Oxfordshire Apprenticeship Awards will once again shine a spotlight on our county’s apprentices – and the businesses and organisations, training providers and schools that support their journey – recognising the huge contribution they make to our county’s economy at a special awards ceremony on Thursday 22 May 2025 at Blenheim Palace.

We’re delighted to introduce Banbury based chartered accountants and registered auditor Assure UK as sponsor of the Apprenticeship Employer Award (250+ employees).

Here, Jade Brooker, Manager at Assure UK and former apprentice (pictured right), explains why the firm has chosen to sponsor this award and what apprenticeships mean to them.

Why are you supporting the Oxfordshire Apprenticeship Awards and why you have chosen to sponsor your particular category?

From being a firm who has previously been highly commended at the Oxfordshire Apprenticeship Awards in 2019 for the Apprenticeship Employer of the Year Award (<250 employees), we jumped at the opportunity to be involved for the fourth year in a row in sponsoring the Oxfordshire Apprenticeship Awards. This year we will be sponsoring the large employer award and we are looking forward to identify new learnings from the larger employers which we could introduce within a smaller firm.

What are you looking for in the winner of your category?

We are looking for employers who go the extra mile for their employees. We want to see something different and not what is expected from employers.

We want to learn what your employees see as a benefit of the apprenticeship to see if this is something we can implement into our team. We want to use this as a learning curve as much as a celebration for another employer.

What would you say to anyone thinking about entering or nominating?

There is nothing to lose if you enter but there is a loss if you do not enter. You may think you wouldn’t have a chance in winning the award, but you don’t know unless you try. You should have the confidence in your company that you are doing the best you can for your apprentices.

Even if apprenticeships have only recently been introduced in your company, then this doesn’t mean you don’t have the experience to enter for this award.

Tell us about your organisation’s experience of apprenticeships

At Assure UK we currently have eight team members who are undertaking an apprenticeship in either accountancy or business administration varying from level 3 to level 7.

One of our team members is an Oxfordshire Apprenticeship Ambassador and an ACCA Ambassador. This has allowed us to spread the word about how important apprenticeships are and what they mean to not only us as a company but also to our team members as individuals.

About the awards

The awards will be open for entries and nominations until midnight on the evening of Monday 24 February 2025. Finalists will be announced during Oxfordshire Apprenticeships Hour (hashtag #OAHour) across the OxLEP Skills social media channels from 13:00 on Thursday 24 April 2025. Winners will be announced at a special awards ceremony on Thursday 22 May 2025.

If you would like the opportunity to support the awards, please get in touch.

Join us for Oxfordshire Apprenticeships Hour (#OAHour) on X @OxonApprentice from 13:00-14:00 every Thursday for latest on the Awards and join in the conversation using the hashtag #OAAwards2025.

The ninth annual Oxfordshire Apprenticeship Awards will once again shine a spotlight on our county’s apprentices – and the businesses and organisations, training providers and schools that support their journey – recognising the huge contribution they make to our county’s economy at a special awards ceremony on Thursday 22 May 2025 at Blenheim Palace.

We’re delighted to introduce Jonas Software UK & Europe as a sponsor of the Oxfordshire Apprenticeship Awards 2025.

Jonas Software UK & Europe acquires and grows innovative software firms, forming lifetime partnerships. Watch the Jonas Software UK and Europe group annual event film to find out more about them.

Here, Laureen McHaffie, Head of People & Culture, explains why the company have chosen to sponsor the awards and what apprenticeships mean to them.

Why are you supporting the Oxfordshire Apprenticeship Awards?

We acquire businesses and hold them for life. Our first acquisition was Gladstone Software (based in Wallingford), then shortly followed by Xn Leisure (based in Abingdon). Our Head Office is also located in Wallingford, Oxfordshire, along with our central Finance, IT and People & Culture teams.

What would you say to anyone thinking about entering or nominating?

Entering or nominating an apprentice can be a valuable and rewarding experience for both the apprentice and the sponsoring organisation. Here are some key points to consider:

Investing in future talent:
Apprenticeships provide an opportunity to invest in the future workforce by developing skilled individuals who can contribute to the success of the organisation.

Skill development:
Apprenticeships offer hands-on, practical experience that can complement theoretical knowledge. This dual approach enhances the apprentice’s skill set, making them well-rounded professionals.

Diverse perspectives:
Apprenticeships can bring fresh perspectives and ideas to your organisation. New talent often brings innovation and can contribute to problem-solving in unique ways.

Long-term talent pipeline:
Apprenticeships can serve as a strategic approach to building a sustainable talent pipeline. By investing in training early in someone’s career, you increase the likelihood of retaining skilled professionals in the long term.

Tell us about your organisation’s experience of apprenticeships

We are still new to the apprenticeship programme, but we are building out lots of opportunities, not just to bring in entry level but upskilling existing employees. We have recently enjoyed success with our CMI level 3 & level 5 programme. In addition, we support apprentices in finance, network engineering and IT & telecoms across our group, we hope to grow this in 2024 and beyond.

About the awards

The awards will be open for entries and nominations until midnight on the evening of Monday 24 February 2025. Finalists will be announced during Oxfordshire Apprenticeships Hour (hashtag #OAHour) across the OxLEP Skills social media channels from 13:00 on Thursday 24 April 2025. Winners will be announced at a special awards ceremony on Thursday 22 May 2025.

If you would like the opportunity to support the awards, please get in touch.

Join us for Oxfordshire Apprenticeships Hour (#OAHour) on X @OxonApprentice from 13:00-14:00 every Thursday for latest on the Awards and join in the conversation using the hashtag #OAAwards2025.

The ninth annual Oxfordshire Apprenticeship Awards will once again shine a spotlight on our county’s apprentices – and the businesses and organisations, training providers and schools that support their journey – recognising the huge contribution they make to our county’s economy at a special awards ceremony on Thursday 22 May 2025 at Blenheim Palace.

We’re delighted to introduce Activate Apprenticeships as a sponsor of the Oxfordshire Apprenticeship Awards 2025.

Here, Anne-Marie Everett, Group Marketing Business Partner for Activate Apprenticeships, explains why they have chosen to sponsor the awards and what apprenticeships mean to them.

Why are you supporting the Oxfordshire Apprenticeship Awards?

Activate Apprenticeships is proud to support the Oxfordshire Apprenticeship Awards. As a local organisation, we believe it is vital to celebrate the apprentices and employers who contribute so much to the success of our local economy. Recognising these achievements aligns with our commitment to developing skills and providing opportunities within the Oxfordshire community.

What would you say to anyone thinking about entering or nominating?

Go for it! Recognising the hard work and dedication of apprentices, employers and education providers is essential. By participating, you can highlight the positive impact apprenticeships have on individuals, businesses and the wider community.

Tell us about your organisation’s experience of apprenticeships

Founded in 2013, Activate Apprenticeships is one of the largest apprenticeship providers across Oxfordshire, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Surrey, with expanding operations throughout the UK.

We specialize in delivering tailored apprenticeship programmes, training and consulting services to some of the nation’s top employers. By collaborating with these businesses, we create apprenticeship opportunities that not only enhance individual careers but also drive business success.

As experts in apprenticeship reforms, we offer clients guidance on every aspect of learning and development, from recruitment to funding compliance. Our goal is to ensure a strong return on training investment, helping businesses thrive while supporting the next generation of skilled workers.

About the awards

The awards will be open for entries and nominations until midnight on the evening of Monday 24 February 2025. Finalists will be announced during Oxfordshire Apprenticeships Hour (hashtag #OAHour) across the OxLEP Skills social media channels from 13:00 on Thursday 24 April 2025. Winners will be announced at a special awards ceremony on Thursday 22 May 2025.

If you would like the opportunity to support the awards, please get in touch.

Join us for Oxfordshire Apprenticeships Hour (#OAHour) on X @OxonApprentice from 13:00-14:00 every Thursday for latest on the Awards and join in the conversation using the hashtag #OAAwards2025.

The ninth annual Oxfordshire Apprenticeship Awards will once again shine a spotlight on our county’s apprentices – and the businesses and organisations, training providers and schools that support their journey – recognising the huge contribution they make to our county’s economy at a special awards ceremony on Thursday 22 May 2025 at Blenheim Palace.

We’re delighted to introduce the South East Apprenticeship Ambassador Network (SEAAN) as a sponsor of the Oxfordshire Apprenticeship Awards 2025.

Why are you supporting the Oxfordshire Apprenticeship Awards?

The Apprenticeship Ambassador Network is the movement championing apprenticeships to raise awareness and increase engagement to meet the needs of employers, communities and individuals across the country.

The aims of the Oxfordshire Apprenticeship Awards align perfectly with our mission to champion apprenticeships. Being a sponsor of the awards gives us a fantastic opportunity to celebrate the successes of apprentices and recognise the commitment of those who support them throughout their apprenticeship journey and beyond.

What would you say to anyone thinking about entering or nominating?

Do it! This is a brilliant opportunity to celebrate the achievements of your apprentices and raise the profile of your business as an apprenticeship employer.

Tell us about your organisation’s experience of apprenticeships

The South East Apprenticeship Ambassador Network (SEAAN) is of a group of employers whose main aim is to spearhead the drive to engage new employers to commit to apprenticeship delivery across South East England.

Ambassadors undertake their role, on a voluntary basis, by supporting and influencing a wide range of key stakeholders including schools, colleges, employers and their supply chains, trade associations and employment bodies.

We champion and support marketing, publicity and events to raise awareness of apprenticeships. They also provide mentoring and support for employers looking to recruit apprentices for the first time.

There is also a well-established Young Apprenticeship Ambassador Network (YAAN) attached to the SEAAN. The YAAN helps to promote apprenticeships to young people.

Find out more at https://seaan.org.uk and follow us on LinkedIn and X to keep up with the latest news and events in our region.

About the awards

The awards will be open for entries and nominations until midnight on the evening of Monday 24 February 2025. Finalists will be announced during Oxfordshire Apprenticeships Hour (hashtag #OAHour) across the OxLEP Skills social media channels from 13:00 on Thursday 24 April 2025. Winners will be announced at a special awards ceremony on Thursday 22 May 2025.

If you would like the opportunity to support the awards, please get in touch.

Join us for Oxfordshire Apprenticeships Hour (#OAHour) on X @OxonApprentice from 13:00-14:00 every Thursday for latest on the Awards and join in the conversation using the hashtag #OAAwards2025.

The ninth annual Oxfordshire Apprenticeship Awards will once again shine a spotlight on our county’s apprentices – and the businesses and organisations, training providers and schools that support their journey – recognising the huge contribution they make to our county’s economy at a special awards ceremony on Thursday 22 May 2025 at Blenheim Palace.

We’re delighted to introduce Oxfordshire County Council as a supporter of the Oxfordshire Apprenticeship Awards 2025.

Why are you supporting the Oxfordshire Apprenticeship Awards?

The Oxfordshire Apprenticeship Awards are a great opportunity for employers to celebrate Apprentices and recognise the people who work hard to make them happen.

We are keen to support and champion the delivery of apprenticeships and workforce growth in organisations across Oxfordshire.

What would you say to anyone thinking about entering or nominating?

We would like to say “go for it” – it is a great opportunity to promote your commitment to apprenticeships, and to recognise the achievements of your apprentices, managers, teams and providers that support them.

Tell us about your organisation’s experience of apprenticeships

Oxfordshire County Council is one of the largest employers in Oxfordshire, with over 10,000 employees (including our maintained school staff) working in a wide variety of services including Fire and Rescue, Social Care, Engineering, Finance, Human Resources, Legal, Property Management and IT.

Since 2007, we have steadily built up the number of apprentices we employ and the range of schemes we offer. Currently we have 280 apprentices training across our wider workforce (including maintained schools) in a diverse range of roles. We deliver around 50 different apprenticeship standards.

The aim of our apprenticeship hub is to support all our colleagues and teams by providing a centralised support service across our organisation with all aspects of apprenticeship training.

Our apprentices go on to achieve great things, improving our services and helping our organisation go from strength to strength.

Our range of apprenticeships we offer has grown every year; in the last year we have introduced a great deal of new programs including:
L6 Trading Standards Officer
L4 Cyber security technologist
L6 Youth Worker
L4 Town Planning assistant
L4 Quality Practitioner
L5 Coaching Professional

About the awards

The awards will be open for entries and nominations until midnight on the evening of Monday 24 February 2025. Finalists will be announced during Oxfordshire Apprenticeships Hour (hashtag #OAHour) across the OxLEP Skills social media channels from 13:00 on Thursday 24 April 2025. Winners will be announced at a special awards ceremony on Thursday 22 May 2025.

If you would like the opportunity to support the awards, please get in touch.

Join us for Oxfordshire Apprenticeships Hour (#OAHour) on X @OxonApprentice from 13:00-14:00 every Thursday for latest on the Awards and join in the conversation using the hashtag #OAAwards2025.

The ninth annual Oxfordshire Apprenticeship Awards will once again shine a spotlight on our county’s apprentices – and the businesses and organisations, training providers and schools that support their journey – recognising the huge contribution they make to our county’s economy at a special awards ceremony on Thursday 22 May 2025 at Blenheim Palace.

We are delighted to introduce electrical and building services engineering company Darke & Taylor as a sponsor of the Oxfordshire Apprenticeship Awards 2025.

Here, joint Managing Director Simon Newton explains why apprenticeships are so important to the firm and why they’re supporting the Oxfordshire Apprenticeship Awards for the ninth year running.

Why are you supporting the Oxfordshire Apprenticeship Awards?

Apprenticeships are a key element of our business and instrumental in enabling us to build a skilled and loyal workforce. At Darke & Taylor, our apprentices and our apprenticeship scheme have won awards and we know what a positive impact this has on our business, which makes us all the more keen to support our local awards.

What would you say to anyone thinking about entering or nominating?

If you are an apprentice or you know of one that really adds value in the workplace, that enjoys their job and knows they have made a great decision in following the apprenticeship route, then you should not hesitate to enter or nominate.

The process is very straightforward and the application form simple to complete, no trick questions, just an opportunity to speak positively and honestly about the apprenticeship experience. The awards will celebrate all that is good about apprenticeships in Oxfordshire and being nominated, making the final or possibly even winning are all positive experiences that apprentices and their employers will benefit from.

Tell us about your organisation’s experience of apprenticeships

The apprenticeship initiative at Darke & Taylor has evolved over time to become the cornerstone on which the company and its progression is founded. Today it is a vital part of our business model which recognises that sustainable success is about developing people. Over the last 50 years the company has offered jobs and training to in excess of 350 young school leavers and today over 20% of the workforce are engaged in an apprenticeship learning to become electricians, fire & security engineers, business administrators and ICT specialists.

Darke & Taylor is committed to apprenticeships and our scheme is special because it really delivers; four of our current Board Directors, two Associate Directors, eight senior managers and the majority of our senior engineers completed their apprenticeships with the company. We are very proud of our award-winning apprenticeships.

About the awards

The awards will be open for entries and nominations until midnight on the evening of Monday 24 February 2025. Finalists will be announced during Oxfordshire Apprenticeships Hour (hashtag #OAHour) across the OxLEP Skills social media channels from 13:00 on Thursday 24 April 2025. Winners will be announced at a special awards ceremony on Thursday 22 May 2025.

If you would like the opportunity to support the awards, please get in touch.

Join us for Oxfordshire Apprenticeships Hour (#OAHour) on X @OxonApprentice from 13:00-14:00 every Thursday for latest on the Awards and join in the conversation using the hashtag #OAAwards2025.

The ninth annual Oxfordshire Apprenticeship Awards will once again shine a spotlight on our county’s apprentices – and the businesses and organisations, training providers and schools that support their journey – recognising the huge contribution they make to our county’s economy at a special awards ceremony on Thursday 22 May 2025 at Blenheim Palace.

We’re delighted to introduce High Spec Composites as a sponsor of the Oxfordshire Apprenticeship Awards 2025.

Here, Sarah Jaycock, Co-founder and Executive Director, explains why they have chosen to sponsor the awards and what apprenticeships mean to them.

Why are you supporting the Oxfordshire Apprenticeship Awards?

High Spec has been a passionate supporter of the Oxfordshire Apprenticeship Awards, both as a committee member and sponsor since the awards launched in 2017. Having grown our small business through apprenticeships we understand the great benefits apprentices can bring to a company and are keen to share our positive experiences with a wider network whilst celebrating star apprentices throughout Oxfordshire.

What would you say to anyone thinking about entering or nominating?

Over the years we have been applicants, finalists, winners, sponsors, headline sponsors and committee members when it comes to apprenticeship awards – and we’d strongly encourage anyone thinking about entering to do so!

The application process itself can be incredibly rewarding, regardless of how the application progresses; it can provide the perfect opportunity for both businesses and individuals to appreciate and reflect on the value of their apprenticeship/apprenticeship provisions and to celebrate how far they have come.

For those who reach finalist stages, or become winners, you’ll also have an amazing award which can benefit you for many years to come!

Tell us about your organisation’s experience of apprenticeships

High Spec Composites is a keen advocate of apprenticeships having grown the business through apprenticeship programmes since establishment in 2010.

We have an extremely high success rate with completion of our level 2 and level 3 qualifications and all our apprentices have been offered full-time positions within High Spec Composites at the end of their learning.

Some of our more ambitious apprentices have progressed though the business into leadership and management roles and others, with support from High Spec, have launched into exciting roles within F1.

We have found employing apprentices is not only cost-effective solution for expanding a small business, but also the perfect opportunity to train individuals to bespoke business needs.

About the awards

The awards will be open for entries and nominations until midnight on the evening of Monday 24 February 2025. Finalists will be announced during Oxfordshire Apprenticeships Hour (hashtag #OAHour) across the OxLEP Skills social media channels from 13:00 on Thursday 24 April 2025. Winners will be announced at a special awards ceremony on Thursday 22 May 2025.

If you would like the opportunity to support the awards, please get in touch.

Join us for Oxfordshire Apprenticeships Hour (#OAHour) on X @OxonApprentice from 13:00-14:00 every Thursday for latest on the Awards and join in the conversation using the hashtag #OAAwards2025.

The ninth annual Oxfordshire Apprenticeship Awards will once again shine a spotlight on our county’s apprentices – and the businesses and organisations, training providers and schools that support their journey – recognising the huge contribution they make to our county’s economy at a special awards ceremony on Thursday 22 May 2025 at Blenheim Palace.

We’re delighted to introduce Olamalu as sponsor of the Apprenticeship Employer Award (<250 employees). The team at Olamalu help organisations to work better through their clever use of technology. They build websites, intranets, apps and can solve unique business challenges.

Here, Kate Berman, Director, explains why Olamalu have chosen to sponsor the awards and what apprenticeships mean to them.

Why are you supporting the Oxfordshire Apprenticeship Awards?

The Oxfordshire Apprenticeship Awards celebrate the valuable role that apprenticeships play in the business community. It’s critical to keep telling stories of successful apprenticeships and raising awareness of the opportunities both to potential apprentices and to local businesses. By supporting these awards, we hope to make clear our commitment to apprenticeships as a way to get started in a career and to develop the skills to succeed in that career.

What are you looking for in the winner of your category?

A clear commitment to apprenticeships as a way to bring value to both the apprentices and the organisation. Investment in learning and development throughout the apprenticeship and support for progression post-apprenticeship. An apprenticeship programme that is truly integrated into the organisation.

What would you say to anyone thinking about entering or nominating?

Give it a go! We should all celebrate the achievements of apprentices. There are so many wonderful stories of success to share. And you might inspire someone else to apply for an apprenticeship and start their own amazing apprentice story.

Tell us about your organisation’s experience of apprenticeships

From the moment we started the business, opening up opportunities for young people to join the technology industry has been at the heart of the way we operate. Getting started as a software developer is hard. Companies often only want to hire developers with a degree and several years of experience. We decided to follow a different path and develop our own entry-level programme. Apprenticeships form a vital part of this.

50% of our team came through the apprenticeship route, and our business wouldn’t be where it is today without them. The combination of academic learning and hands-on experience is invaluable for the apprentice and for the wider team. It’s a joy to see our apprentices grow their skills and knowledge and to see them take on bigger roles as they progress.

Our current apprenticeship programme is focused on a degree apprenticeship in digital technologies. This offers the apprentice the chance to earn a degree as they work in the industry, graduating with no student debt and several years’ experience of practical, relevant work. At the end of the apprenticeship, there are opportunities to progress to next level of role and to keep on growing and learning in the ever evolving digital world.

We were delighted to have been the winner of the Apprenticeship Employer of the Year (< 250 Employees) at the 2024 Oxfordshire Apprenticeship Awards and to then go on to be named winner of the BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT SME Apprenticeship Employer of the Year Award at the South East National Apprenticeship and Skills Awards 2024.

About the awards

The awards will be open for entries and nominations until midnight on the evening of Monday 24 February 2025. Finalists will be announced during Oxfordshire Apprenticeships Hour (hashtag #OAHour) across the OxLEP Skills social media channels from 13:00 on Thursday 24 April 2025. Winners will be announced at a special awards ceremony on Thursday 22 May 2025.

If you would like the opportunity to support the awards, please get in touch.

Join us for Oxfordshire Apprenticeships Hour (#OAHour) on X @OxonApprentice from 13:00-14:00 every Thursday for latest on the Awards and join in the conversation using the hashtag #OAAwards2025.

The ninth annual Oxfordshire Apprenticeship Awards will once again shine a spotlight on our county’s apprentices – and the businesses and organisations, training providers and schools that support their journey – recognising the huge contribution they make to our county’s economy at a special awards ceremony on Thursday 22 May 2025 at Blenheim Palace.

We’re delighted to introduce Popham Hairdressing as sponsor of the Rising Star Award, which will recognise apprentices who have been in post for less than 9 months and have already excelled in their work, learning and development and made exceptional contributions to their workplaces.

Popham Hairdressing, an award-winning salon group based in Oxford, is the only UK hairdressing company to be awarded the Champion Investors in People award, demonstrating its commitment to good management and people development.

Here, Shirley Popham, Managing Director, explains why Popham Hairdressing have chosen to sponsor this award and what apprenticeships mean to them.

Why are you supporting the Oxfordshire Apprenticeship Awards and why you have
chosen to sponsor your particular category?

The Oxfordshire Apprenticeship Awards changed the whole way our training programme has been viewed and therefore the increased applications we receive.

Since winning the Apprenticeship Employer Award (<250 employees) in 2018, our apprenticeship programme is so strong and we are delighted to now have 77% homegrown staff, which makes a huge difference to the ongoing expansion and growth of Popham.

We have chosen to sponsor this category as our apprentice, Liv was a finalist in this category last year and we like the continuity that brings the award. I intend to bring her will our interviews, when judging the category.

What are you looking for in the winner of your category?

An apprentice who has made a huge impact in their own career, in their way of being as well as for the company they work for, in the first year of the apprenticeship. Someone who really goes above and beyond in their approach to being an apprentice.

What would you say to anyone thinking about entering or nominating?

Enter, if you aren’t in it you can’t win it!

It is such an accolade from your employer to be nominated or just enter yourself – it really boosts morale and makes you see the value in yourself, which sometimes can be hard for people to see.

Tell us about your organisation’s experience of apprenticeships

Apprenticeships are a fundamental part of our business and make a difference to every day with our team. Without the support of our apprentices, our team could not deliver what they do. It was highlighted how much difference they make to us during the Covid come back when we weren’t allowed to utilise our apprentices.

We work very closely with a training provider who does the theoretical part of our programme and we do the practical part but fundamentally, the apprentices are our team.

It is a joy to see that 21 of our team have now come through our programme and to see them flying in their careers, makes it totally worthwhile.

I would recommend using an apprenticeship to train in our industry as opposed to a college, because its so much more. Its hands on, meaning you earn while you learn and when you qualify, you are actually able to perform your job, rather than starting from scratch.

About the awards

The awards will be open for entries and nominations until midnight on the evening of Monday 24 February 2025. Finalists will be announced during Oxfordshire Apprenticeships Hour (hashtag #OAHour) across the OxLEP Skills social media channels from 13:00 on Thursday 24 April 2025. Winners will be announced at a special awards ceremony on Thursday 22 May 2025.

If you would like the opportunity to support the awards, please get in touch.

Join us for Oxfordshire Apprenticeships Hour (#OAHour) on X @OxonApprentice from 13:00-14:00 every Thursday for latest on the Awards and join in the conversation using the hashtag #OAAwards2025.