St Mungo’s is a leading UK homelessness charity supporting over 3150 people every night. St Mungo’s services in Oxford include outreach for people experiencing rough sleeping, with access to an Employment Support team.

Martin joined the Employment Support programme at St. Mungo’s in May 2023, having spent most of his career in catering and hospitality. Martin wanted a career change and didn’t really know what he wanted to do, other than he knew that his end goal was paid employment within the construction industry.

In this instance, Grace, one of the Employment Specialists at St. Mungo’s and Martin decided that a good first step would be for Martin to obtain a work experience placement within construction. Initially, Martin and Grace contacted numerous construction firms throughout Oxfordshire, but as they didn’t receive any feedback, they decided to change tack.

Grace got in touch with the St. Mungo’s Corporate Partnership team, who connected them with Danielle McCarthy, Social Value and Community Manager at The Hill Group. Hill is one of the construction partners working on-site delivering Oxford North, a new innovation district for the city, set to open in 2025. Oxford North has an ambitious Community Employment Plan, supported by OxLEP Skills Community Employment Plan Adviser, Cat Armstrong, which sets out how the project will maximise the opportunities created for local people like Martin during the next 18 months of construction.

Grace contacted Danielle and provided her with some context about the Employment Support programme at St. Mungo’s and additionally introduced Martin, as a client seeking a work placement within construction. Danielle advised that there were some opportunities within their Oxford North programme and advised that they could facilitate Martin there. Once the date was set, Danielle put together a programme placement schedule, covering lots of different aspects of construction related work, showcasing different career pathways and opportunities.

The placement included multiple site tours, a day with the Sustainability and Environmental team, dedicated time with the Quantity Surveyors, the Technical and Design team and the commercial teams, before ending with a CV workshop and coaching session.

Following the placement, which Martin managed to attend every day, he has decided that he wants to focus on construction employment pathways within Technical and Design and complete additional work placements in this area. When Grace followed up with Danielle, Danielle had advised that the team had really enjoyed working with Martin and advised that The Hill Group were happy to work with St. Mungo’s Employment Support on work placements and paid roles in the future.

Martin said that he found the placement really enjoyable. “I learned more than I thought I would and despite the placement being brief, I felt empowered to ask the team when I didn’t understand something and felt the placement played well into my inquisitive nature.”

“I felt that the placement gave me an opportunity to be part of a work based setting without the immediate pressure of paid work and I’m really grateful for the team who were really hospitable and friendly.”

Find out more about Community Employment Plans:

Building performance specialists LCMB Building Performance Ltd have a fantastic Degree Apprentice Consultant opportunity available for a school leaver or mature student looking to make a significant impact in the field of building services engineering.

This exciting opportunity commences in September 2024 and is based in their Adderbury office near Banbury. The apprentice will work towards a BEng (Hons) Building Service Design Engineer Level 6 Apprenticeship.

About LCMB Building Performance Ltd.

Engineering is the practical and creative application of science and maths, playing a pivotal role in addressing some of the world’s most pressing problems. LCMB Building Performance Ltd are at the forefront of this endeavor. Their team combines engineering expertise with project and operational management skills to enhance the efficiency of workplaces and buildings. Their goal? To optimise every building for its users while minimising operational costs, energy usage and carbon emissions. This not only reduces the climate impact of buildings but also aligns with their clients’ sustainability and climate change strategies. Their diverse client base includes some of the UK’s leading universities, NHS Trusts and private sector businesses.

Join the team: a unique opportunity in building performance

Building on their commitment to sustainability and efficiency, LCMB are now looking for a new team member who shares their passion for energy, climate change and sustainability. The ideal candidate will be proactive, resourceful, self-motivated and possess excellent interpersonal skills. A keen eye for detail and strong presentation and written abilities are vital, along with proficiency in Microsoft Excel and Word. This role is not just a job, it’s a chance to make a tangible difference in the field of building performance.

The role: making a real-world impact

In this role, the apprentice won’t just be learning; they will be actively involved in solving real-world problems from day one. Working alongside LCMB’s experienced team of engineers, energy and facilities managers, they will gain invaluable hands-on experience. Additionally, they will study for a BEng (Hons) in Building Services Engineering at London Southbank University on a day release basis, with all fees covered by the business and government. This unique blend of practical work and academic study is complemented by an annual salary and benefits package. 

Skills and qualifications required

To be eligible for the Apprentice Consultant role, candidates should meet the following qualifications:

• A Level BBC, including Mathematics and ideally a Science subject (Chemistry or Physics) [UCAS points: 112].
• T-level (Merit or above) in Construction: Design, Surveying, and Planning [UCAS points: 120].
• BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma DDM in an Engineering subject, with strong performance in Mathematics [UCAS points: 128].
• Building Services Engineering Technician level 3 apprenticeship DD [UCAS points: 96], plus a Pass or Distinction at EPA.
• Access to Engineering qualifications with 15 Distinctions and 30 Merits, including Maths and Physical Science credits.
• A minimum of 5 GCSEs A-C, including Maths and English (or equivalent).

How to apply

Please visit https://www.findapprenticeship.service.gov.uk/apprenticeship/VAC1000270747 to apply. The closing date is Monday 26th August at 11:59pm.

This apprenticeship is supported by the transfer of apprenticeship levy funds from Legal & General, facilitated by our Apprenticeship Advisor Leah Bryan. LCMB also benefited from an apprenticeship levy pledge from Howdens to fund training for their current Degree Apprentice Consultant as featured in our recent case study.

For support to make an apprenticeship levy pledge, or to access pledged funds, contact skills@oxfordshirelep.com.

Find out more about the apprenticeship support available to employers from OxLEP Skills:

More than 80 fully-funded places are available on eco-friendly home improvement courses for people based in South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse districts.

South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse District Councils have partnered with OxLEP Skills, Abingdon & Witney College and education charity SOFEA to upskill local residents and businesses.

The councils have funded 82 places for ‘green’ building and construction courses from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund. These courses at Abingdon & Witney College, include Installation and Maintenance of Heat Pumps, Understanding Domestic Retrofit and general awareness courses.

You can find out more about these courses and how to sign-up for them at a drop-in event on Monday 19 August at the Net Zero Skills Hub, at Abingdon & Witney College’s Abingdon Campus from 9.30am to 11am.

The councils have also contributed funding to OxLEP and SOFEA’s ‘No Limits’ programme, designed to offer support for residents into green skills training and employment.

The programme includes assistance for those who need help to get a job, including free laptops and mobile phones to develop digital skills as well as travel grants for those needing financial help to get to work, school or college. A full-time member of staff will be on hand to help with any queries and offer advice *.

Sally Andreou, Skills Hub Manager at OxLEP, said: “Ensuring our businesses are able to benefit from a top-class and well-trained workforce is a key priority for OxLEP – therefore, the fully-funded provision to be delivered by Abingdon & Witney College means our construction sector will continue to be in a superior position, meeting the demands of a greener future and even support the county to capitalise on the opportunities the green economy will present.

“We would encourage residents across South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse to take advantage of this fantastic opportunity.”

Councillor Robin Bennett, South Oxfordshire District Council’s Cabinet Member for Economic Development and Regeneration, and Deputy Leader, said: “Many of us would like to adapt our homes to use less energy, or would like to generate our own using renewables, to reduce both our climate change impact and our household bills. Many homes will need new types of heating systems, such as heat pumps. Having people with the right skills is vital to make this a reality, and I’m happy that the council is working with some great local organisations to provide a variety of opportunities to learn.”

Councillor Bethia Thomas, Vale of White Horse District Council Leader and Cabinet Member for Climate Action, said: “These green courses are designed to help residents and businesses to gain essential skills and knowledge to excel in the Green Skills sector, playing a crucial role in creating a sustainable future.”

Jacqui Canton, Principal and Chief Executive at Abingdon & Witney College said: “We are thrilled to launch this initiative, offering free courses that will empower individuals with essential skills in green technology. At the heart of our education is the vision ‘Be You Be Extraordinary,’ where everyone achieves more than they believe is possible. This initiative underscores our commitment to enhancing employability and supporting a sustainable future for our community.”

Taraji Ogunnubi, ‘No Limits’ Programme Manager at SOFEA, said: “Our partnership to offer fully funded green skills courses is a vital step towards building a resilient, eco-friendly future. At SOFEA, we are committed to empowering our community through education, sustainable practices, and direct support.

“In addition to education, SOFEA operates food larders across Oxfordshire, which serve as key community hubs. These larders not only help in addressing food insecurity but also facilitate regular engagement with residents, providing them with opportunities to learn about and participate in green initiatives. 

“By equipping local residents and businesses with the skills necessary for eco-friendly developments and engaging them through our larders, we are enhancing employability and driving significant environmental change. We encourage everyone to seize this opportunity to become pioneers in the green economy, transforming their homes and workplaces and community into models of sustainability.”  

With employers with an annual pay bill of £3m+ paying 0.5% of this as an apprenticeship levy, these employers are also able to pledge up to 25% of their levy annually to support small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs), charities and social enterprises to fund their own apprenticeship training and assessment.

A key initiative within OxLEP Skills’ Social Contract Programme, the ‘Grow Your Own’ Levy Pledge Initiative sees Oxfordshire’s levy-paying businesses transfer their unused apprenticeship levy funds to other organisations within the county to support their own skills needs – rather than returning back to the Treasury.

In our latest video, Leah Bryan, Oxfordshire Apprenticeship Advisor for OxLEP Skills answers some of your key questions as to how the scheme works and how the initiative can support your business with your own skills requirements.

What exactly is OxLEP Skills’ Apprenticeship Levy Pledge Initiative?

How can OxLEP Skills’ Apprenticeship Levy Pledge Initiative support my business’ skills needs?

But how can OxLEP Skills support me through the Apprenticeship Levy Pledge Initiative?

How much funding is still available through OxLEP Skills’ Apprenticeship Levy Pledge Initiative?

To find out more about the support available, visit our apprenticeship support page or email skills@oxfordshirelep.com

A new, £1.7million initiative – led by OxLEP – has today (16 July) been launched and is set to make a major impact on employment opportunities across the county.

The Skills Bootcamps programme, part of the Department for Education’s ‘Skills for Life’ activity, is being led in Oxfordshire by OxLEP Skills and will be delivered between this summer, through to March 2025.

It is set to give Oxfordshire residents the opportunity to develop a variety of sector-specific skills, helping to fast-track individuals to potential, future interview opportunities and ultimately, paid work.

The programme will in-particular boost opportunities for jobseekers, those re-entering work after a career gap, or retirees returning to employment, likely triggered by the cost-of-living crisis.

Working with a range of top-class delivery partners, Skills Bootcamps will provide free, flexible courses to its participants – running for up to 16 weeks in some instances – available to residents from across Oxfordshire, subject to the programme’s eligibility criteria.

This new initiative follows other recent successes for OxLEP in supporting the county’s businesses and – in turn – its residents, seeking new job opportunities.

One of OxLEP Skills’ current initiatives – the £1.7million Social Contract programme, funded by the Government’s Contain Outbreak Management Fund, via Oxfordshire County Council – has seen the organisation firmly-support small to medium-sized businesses in Oxfordshire to create new apprenticeship placements, thanks to securing unused apprenticeship levy spend from some of the county’s larger businesses, matching those pledges to interested and applicable smaller organisations.

The initiative has supported those smaller businesses’ own respective growth plans, whilst also directly helping to develop new apprenticeship openings across several key and critical sectors in the county – including health and social care.

In May, OxLEP announced that it had so far managed to secure £3.5million-worth of apprenticeship levy pledges from Oxfordshire-based large businesses, leading to around 200 new apprenticeships being created.

Now, its newly-launched programme – the Skills Bootcamps – will see those signing-up being able to develop new skills in areas such as life sciences, health and green construction.

More widely, Skills Bootcamps is set to play a key role across many Oxfordshire businesses and sectors, helping them to address specific skills gaps – with critical gaps previously identified via the county’s Local Skills Improvement Plan.

Nigel Tipple – Chief Executive of OxLEP – said: “We are delighted to be launching this new programme, building on our solid reputation of supporting Oxfordshire residents to reach their potential whilst also helping our business community to benefit from a well-trained, pipeline of talent.

“Our Skills Bootcamps programme will increase the supply of technical qualifications and skills in Oxfordshire, helping to give some of our key industries and our SME community greater resilience during a key economic period.

“We are delighted to be working with a number of delivery partners too, each set to provide top learning opportunities for the programme’s participants.

“We are extremely excited to be leading this programme and look forward to seeing the positive effect Skills Bootcamps will have right across Oxfordshire – we believe it will make a significant impact on our county’s workforce and one, very much for the better.”

OxLEP are also keen to ensure the programme continues to meet business need and is asking the county’s business community to play its part, including creating interview opportunities for those successfully completing courses.

Nigel Tipple added: “Ultimately, we want to ensure people are finding their way into employment at the end of their Skills Bootcamps journey – with that in mind, if your business operates in any of the sectors the programme is supporting, we would be delighted to hear from you and understand what opportunities could arise within your business.”

A total of three courses are currently on offer via the Skills Bootcamps programme, with each course set to begin in the coming weeks – more courses and associated delivery partners are set to be announced later this summer.

Listed below is the current Skills Bootcamps programme of activity, as well as the providers leading on their respective delivery.

Health and life sciences-focused Skills Bootcamps:

• CSR Scientific Training (laboratory assistant or laboratory technician skills)
• Skills4Pharmacy (pharmacy laboratory technician skills)

Green Construction-focused Skills Bootcamps:

• Reed in Partnership (heat pump skills)

Interested participants are being encouraged to apply to a Skills Bootcamps course as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.

Find out more about Skills Bootcamps.

Between February and July 2024, OxLEP Skills provided a fully-funded monthly webinar series to lend a helping hand to Oxfordshire employers who employ apprentices and are aiming for successful achievements.

Hawk Training delivered each webinar with and on behalf of OxLEP Skills and covered different topics on the journey of an apprentice, starting with apprentice recruitment and ending with End Point Assessment.

Visit the playlist to access all the recordings, or click on the links below to watch each one.

Apprenticeship Recruitment and Expectations (28 February)
Watch on demand

Apprenticeship Employer Engagement (20 March)
Watch on demand

Apprentice Engagement (17 April)
Watch on demand

Apprentice Resilience, Including Mentoring (8 May)
Watch on demand

Apprenticeship EPA Process, Gateway and Planning (12 June)
Watch on demand

Apprenticeship EPA Project Requirements (10 July)
Watch on demand

Our expert Oxfordshire Apprenticeship Adviser Andrea Harrison offers fully-funded support with all aspects of apprenticeships, including completions. If you’d like some help and advice, get in touch with Andrea at andrea.harrison@oxfordshirelep.com

Find out more about apprenticeship support available to employers.

Introduction

Navenio’ s HR Manager, Rebecca Kyte, advocating for the use of apprenticeships to upskill their current workforce applauds OxLEP Skills’ offer to employers: “As a scaleup business, budget constraints can hinder your training needs, so utilising the OxLEP Skills apprenticeship levy transfer scheme has been ideal for us – a process with which OxLEP Skills’ advisors have provided invaluable support. They’ve really taken the time to understand our business requirements and made connections which align well with our values and mission.” 

Background 

Founded in 2015, Navenio is a scale-up tech company which has exploited innovative research developed by a senior academic from the University of Oxford. They provide AI Deep Tech, predominantly for the healthcare sector, but are looking to expand into other sectors. Their people and asset tracking software utilises existing smartphone devices to improve business efficiency for organisations, such as the NHS, by ensuring the right people, such as porters are in the right place at the right time. Their ultimate goal is to assist the NHS in improving efficiency and as a result improve patient experience.

Navenio employs 55 people across its base in Oxford and two other sites in the US and Greece. Navenio HR Manager, Rebecca Kyte, says the company is looking forward to rapid expansion throughout 2024 as they gain access to new markets. Keeping skills current within the workforce is a recognised challenge within the sector. The ability to access funding through the OxLEP Skills apprenticeship levy transfer scheme has had a transformative effect on the organisation. Rebecca says: “Many of our existing team members will benefit from additional training to fully equip them for the increased volume of work due to business growth.” 

The OxLEP Skills apprenticeship levy transfer scheme has helped Navenio to invest in the training they need. Without this fully funded support, Navenio would have had to be more selective in what training they could commit to across the team and training would have been delivered on a slower roll out.

Implementation 

As an employer, Navenio fully utilised its apprenticeship levy fund. As the company was in need to further expand its workforce and to help fund seven new apprenticeships, Navenio turned to OxLEP Skills for help to access the levy transfer scheme.  The seven apprentices included three Data Analyst Apprentices at level 4 and four Business Analyst Apprentices at level 4.

The impact of upskilling through apprenticeships has had immediate effect, with Rebecca noting that employees are acquiring new knowledge and skills leading to improved performance.

The customer support team has seen the biggest benefit in productivity through being able to quickly provide data analytics to live clients including hospitals, highlighting key risks and less efficient areas of the organisation.

Rebecca says: “As a business one of the Objectives and Key Results (OKRs) that we have been set is to optimise our efficiency to fully support multiple clients on a global scale, this process has enabled the apprentice to meet the needs of the client more quickly and at greater depth.”

Key Findings 

Rebecca reflected that: “As a smaller team we wouldn’t have had the capacity to manage the apprenticeship levy scheme ourselves, so having OxLEP Skills as a partner and utilising their expertise has been brilliant, we are most grateful.”

Rebecca also notes that the promise of fully funded training is an added selling point when recruiting and that team members that have completed an apprenticeship are more likely to stay with the company for the duration of the course, and beyond. As part of the ongoing People Strategy at Navenio, the HR team are heavily invested in career development for their employees. A strong appraisal process and Talent Review Process (TRP) means that skills gaps are identified and objectives for progression are documented. Rebecca works closely with each member of the team to understand their aspirations and from that Career Development Plans (CDP) are created. The apprenticeship courses are integral to these discussions as they enable Navenio to map potential growth for staff and discuss their long-term goals with the business, meaning many employees feel they have a strong career path at Navenio and will remain with the business long term.

As Navenio looks to scale its operations, having subject matter experts within the business means that they can work much more efficiently and in turn support a larger number of clients.

Testimonial 

“As a business, we are always looking for innovative ways to train our team, upskilling our employees helps with engagement and retention as well as strategically meeting the business goals. As a scale-up, budget constraints can hinder this process and so using the OxLEP Skills apprenticeship levy transfer scheme was ideal for us, OxLEP Skills’ Apprenticeship Advisors have provided invaluable support in the process, having taken time to understand Navenio’ s business requirements and made connections with appropriate apprenticeship levy paying businesses to match with Navenio’s values and mission. Thanks to them we have been able to support the training of seven apprentices who are already demonstrating an impact in their current roles.”  Rebecca Kyte, HR Manager at Navenio.

Contact skills@oxfordshirelep.com to find out more about how the OxLEP Skills apprenticeship levy transfer scheme can support skills growth for your business.

Find out more about the apprenticeship support available to employers from OxLEP Skills:

Over £3.5m in levy pledges has been received through the initiative to date as part of the Social Contract Programme – a £1.7 million programme of activity funded by the government’s Contain Outbreak Management Fund, via Oxfordshire County Council and led by OxLEP Skills – to address the impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic relating to unemployment, barriers to employment, education, and training.

The Oxfordshire Local Enterprise Partnership Skills Team (OxLEP Skills) has announced its successful ‘Grow Your Own’ Apprenticeship Levy Pledge initiative has reached a new milestone – totalling £3.5 million of funds transferred since the Programme’s launch in May 2022 which has been optimised to create 185 new apprenticeship starts across the county.

Having gained strong momentum after the launch of the initiative from levy pledging businesses, OxLEP Skills are now calling on the county’s SMEs, charities and social enterprises – with particular emphasis on a number of key sectors – to take up the funds and take on an apprentice, with the financial costs largely alleviated.

The latest levy pledge milestone means OxLEP Skills continues to far exceed an original £1.3 million target of pledges set for the Social Contract programme – with funding continuing to find its way to local businesses all the time.

The apprenticeship levy is paid by large employers with an annual pay bill of £3 million or more. Following a recent government announcement, companies can now choose to transfer up to 50% of their levy funds each year to help other businesses pay for their apprenticeship training and assessment – doubling the 25% transfer cap previous.

If levy funding is not utilised within those large companies, or pledged to smaller businesses, it is lost to Oxfordshire and returned to the Treasury. The ‘Grow Your Own’ initiative aims to keep Oxfordshire’s apprenticeship funds – and thus opportunities – in Oxfordshire.

Interested businesses can contact OxLEP Skills to express their interest and find out if they are eligible for funding, but particular sectors urged to apply for the funding as identified in the Oxfordshire Local Skills Improvement Plan include:

• Manufacturing (Science and Innovation)
• Digital (ICT)
• Green skills (Environmental)
• Charity
• Adult care
• Early years education
• Youth workers
• Hospitality and Visitor Economy
• Haulage and Logistics
• Construction and the built environment
• Health and Life Sciences

Businesses can utilise the funds to tailor specific apprenticeship opportunities as per their individual needs, and certain funds have been pledged to support the following specific apprenticeship standards:

• Level 4 Data Analyst Apprenticeship
• Level 5 Departmental/Operations Manager Apprenticeship

Businesses looking to take on apprentices within these roles are urged to get in touch with OxLEP Skills for more information.

Pledges taking the initiative to the £3.5 million-mark include leading facilities management company Mitie, who have pledged £100,000 to champion women in STEM apprenticeships. This investment is set to pave the way for countless opportunities and advancements in the field, making a tangible impact on the future of the Oxfordshire workforce.

Another business to pledge their unspent levy are financial advising specialists Legal & General, who have pledged £100,000, with £16,000 utilised already to support two Early Years Educator Level 3 Apprentices and one Early Years practitioner Level 2 Apprentice at Rosewood Nursery in Chipping Norton.

Kelly Gough, Manager at Rosewood Nursery, said: “We are a newly established nursery in Chipping Norton. As with many areas across the UK, childcare spots are in high demand and the Early Years sector is notoriously challenging for recruitment, especially since the pandemic hit.

“Despite this, today, we have grown into a team of nine exceptionally skilled childcare practitioners, including Kate and Michelle (two of our apprentices), and we now cater to 40 children. Our referrals for childcare spots continue to increase weekly and soon, we will be in a position to recruit more staff.

“However, this growth would not have been possible without Michelle and Kate. Their career advancement opportunities, dedication, and ability to learn quickly on the job have been crucial. Their progress has been instrumental in both their personal development and our nursery’s success.

“Financial support from Legal and General to cover their qualification costs has had a significant impact. Without such support, Kate might not have returned to Early Years, and Michelle would have struggled to afford the transition into this sector.

“The financial backing through the apprenticeship levy pledge scheme and support from sponsors are vital. Without this, the decline in childcare educators would likely continue, and more nurseries could face closure due to staffing shortages or insufficient qualified personnel.”

Sally Andreou, Skills Hub Manager at OxLEP, said: “We’re extremely proud to announce yet another apprenticeship levy-pledge milestone – completely smashing our original target – and showcasing yet again how the Social Contract programme and we at OxLEP Skills are supporting the provision of – and access to – skills within Oxfordshire.

“The interest we’ve had from businesses wishing to pledge their unused levy funds is testament to the calibre of organisations we have in Oxfordshire and their wish to further skills and retain talent in the area.

“It is now essential we match the funds pledged with SMEs looking to take on an apprentice without the initial financial ‘burden’, as it may be considered – so we are urging businesses in the county that can benefit from these funds to get in touch. If not – we will lose these outstanding funds back to the Treasury.

“Oxfordshire is renowned for its presence in a vast array of key sectors – and it is in many of these that a real opportunity to take on an apprentice, or use apprenticeships to upskill existing teams – exists.

“We continue to encourage small businesses in Oxfordshire – who have not yet taken advantage of the funds available through the apprenticeship levy transfer scheme – to get involved and unlock the door to a growing future workforce.”

Other areas in which the Social Contract seeks to address the impacts of areas such as barriers to employment, education and training as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, include through the ‘No Limits’ programme – funding 5 triage workers at SOFEA’s food larders across Oxfordshire – aiding customers with any skills and employability support they might require. The programme also offers IT equipment, as well as training and travel bursaries to support access to employment or training.

Find out if your business could be eligible to take up the levy funding, pledge your own levy, or find out more about the other initiatives within the Social Contract by getting in touch with OxLEP Skills’ Oxfordshire Apprenticeship Advisers today: skills@oxfordshirelep.com.

Apprentices, businesses, education providers and champions of apprenticeships – from right across the county – came together this evening (16 May) for this year’s Oxfordshire Apprenticeship Awards, one of the leading annual business celebration events anywhere in the region.

The spectacular awards – now in its eighth year and organised by OxLEP Skills – saw close to 200 people come together at Williams Racing’s Experience Centre in Grove to celebrate all things apprenticeships. Many more joined the event via a live-stream hosted on OxLEP’s website.

Supported by a business-led committee, the Oxfordshire Apprenticeship Awards aims to champion work-based learning excellence across a breadth of sectors. This year, the event saw winners announced from 13 categories, all of which it is hoped will act as a major inspiration to businesses, encouraging them to explore what an apprentice could bring to their respective companies.

The headline sponsor for this year’s awards was Oxford North – other awards sponsors included Grundon, Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust, Blenheim & Pye Homes, Milestone Infrastructure, Abbott Diabetes Care, IST INTECH, Hill, The Engineering Trust, Oxford Professional Education, Assure UK and Owen Mumford.

The awards were hosted by Simon Newton – Joint Managing Director of Darke & Taylor – and Sarah Jaycock, Executive Director of High Spec Composites.

OxLEP also welcomed David Johnston OBE, the MP for Wantage and Didcot, and Minister for Children, Families and Wellbeing. Mr Johnston gave an opening address at the event.

Below is a full list of this year’s winners and highly-commended finalists:

Intermediate Apprentice of the Year

Sponsored by Grundon

Winner:

• Joshua Jones, Highways Operative, Milestone Infrastructure

Highly commended:

• Liv Chapman, Apprentice Hairdresser, Popham Hairdressing Ltd
• Lucy Parsons, Apprentice Finance and Accounting Technician, University of Oxford

Advanced Apprentice of the Year Award

Sponsored by Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust

Winner:

• Henry Fletcher, Apprentice Carpenter, Parker Turnbull Developments Limited

Highly commended:

• Angel Branker, Apprentice Laboratory Technician, University of Oxford
• Isaac Pylee, Ground Operations Apprentice

Higher Apprentice of the Year Award

Sponsored by Blenheim & Pye Homes

Winner:

• Cecilia Sofia Badiale, Architect, Ridge and Partners LLP

Highly commended:

• Thomas Renault, Data and Performance Analyst, Milestone Infrastructure
• Aaron Robinson, Rail Degree Apprentice, Amey Consulting 

Special Recognition Award

Sponsored by Milestone Infrastructure

Winner:

• Anna Christopher, Apprentice Business Administrator, University of Oxford

Highly commended:

• Jay Formento, Ward Administrator, Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust
• Jack Paviour, Administrative Officer – Digital Infrastructure Team, Oxfordshire County Council

Rising Star Award

Sponsored by Abbott Diabetes Care

Winner:

• George Soanes, Apprentice Laboratory Technician, LTi Metaltech Ltd / Metaltest

Highly commended:

• Gail Fennymore, Rehabilitation Assistant, Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust
• Rhian Mayer, Adult Mental Health Time and Recovery Support Worker, Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust

Shining Star Award

Sponsored by IST INTECH

Winner:

• Nairne Barker, Strategic Apprenticeship Lead, Oxfordshire County Council

Highly commended:

• Jade Brooker, Audit Manager / Practice Manager, Assure UK
• Daniel Reid, Business and Programme Support Officer, Oxfordshire County Council

Apprenticeship Ambassador Award

Sponsored by Hill

Winner:

• Grace Dawson, EPA Coordinator, Explosive Learning Solutions

Highly commended:

• Max Evans, Apprentice Recruitment Assistant, University of Oxford
• Jack Paviour, Administrative Officer – Digital Infrastructure Team, Oxfordshire County Council 

Careers Champion Award

Sponsored by The Engineering Trust

Winner:

• Hannah Gordon, Careers Leader, Fitzwaryn School

Highly commended:

• Hayley Laughlin, Post-14 Lead, Bardwell School
• Jessica Manns, Careers Lead, Subject Lead of History & Humanities Teacher, Greyfriars Catholic School 

Inspiring the Future Award

Sponsored by Oxford Professional Education

Winner:

• Abbott Diabetes Care

Highly commended:

• Morgan Sindall Construction
• Oxford Playhouse Trust

Training Provider Individual Award

Sponsored by NielsenIQ

Winner:

• Mark Dickson, Apprentice Trainer, MTC Training Ltd

Highly commended:

• Justin Merritt, CEO / Director, Ignite Training
• Heidi Silvester, Assessor / Tutor, Introtrain & Forum Limited / Oxford International College of Beauty

Apprenticeship Employer of the Year (<250 Employees) Award

Sponsored by Assure UK 

Winner:

• Olamalu

Highly commended:

• Edgars
• PMC

Apprenticeship Employer of the Year (250+ Employees) Award

Sponsored by Owen Mumford 

Winner:

• Milestone Infrastructure

Highly commended:

• Oxfordshire County Council
• University of Oxford

Oxfordshire Apprentice of the Year

Sponsored by Oxford North

Winners:

• Cecilia Sofia Badiale, Architect, Ridge and Partners LLP
• Joshua Jones, Highways Operative, Milestone Infrastructure

Thank you sponsors and supporters

We would like to say a massive thank you to our headline sponsor Oxford North and all our category sponsors.

We would also like to say a huge thank you to all our other generous sponsors and supporters: Abingdon & Witney College, Activate Apprenticeships, Darke & Taylor, High Spec Composites, Jonas Software, Olamalu, Oxfordshire Advanced Skills, Oxford Brookes University, Oxfordshire County Council, South East Apprenticeship Ambassador Network, Siemens Healthineers, University of Oxford and Williams Racing.

The eighth 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 across a wide range of sectors.

Winners will be announced at a special celebration evening on 16 May at Williams Racing Conference Centre.

We are delighted to introduce this year’s fantastic finalists, who are listed below. Congratulations and good luck to all!

Intermediate Apprentice of the Year

Sponsored by Grundon

Finalists:

• Liv Chapman, Apprentice Hairdresser, Popham Hairdressing Ltd
• Joshua Jones, Highways Operative, Milestone Infrastructure
• Lucy Parsons, Apprentice Finance and Accounting Technician, University of Oxford

Advanced Apprentice of the Year Award

Sponsored by Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust

Finalists:

• Angel Branker, Apprentice Laboratory Technician, University of Oxford
• Henry Fletcher, Apprentice Carpenter, Parker Turnbull Developments Limited
• Isaac Pylee, Ground Operations Apprentice

Higher Apprentice of the Year Award

Sponsored by Blenheim & Pye Homes

Finalists:

• Cecilia Badiale, Architect, Ridge and Partners LLP
• Thomas Renault, Data and Performance Analyst, Milestone Infrastructure
• Aaron Robinson, Rail Degree Apprentice, Amey Consulting 

Special Recognition Award

Sponsored by Milestone Infrastructure

Finalists:

• Anna Christopher, Apprentice Business Administrator, University of Oxford
• Jay Formento, Ward Administrator, Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust
• Jack Paviour, Administrative Officer – Digital Infrastructure Team, Oxfordshire County Council

Rising Star Award

Sponsored by Abbott Diabetes Care

Finalists:

• Gail Fennymore, Rehabilitation Assistant, Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust
• Rhian Mayer, Adult Mental Health Time and Recovery Support Worker, Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust
• George Soanes, Apprentice Laboratory Technician, LTi Metaltech Ltd / Metaltest

Shining Star Award

Sponsored by IST INTECH

Finalists:

• Nairne Barker, Strategic Apprenticeship Lead, Oxfordshire County Council
• Jade Brooker, Audit Manager / Practice Manager, Assure UK
• Daniel Reid, Business and Programme Support Officer, Oxfordshire County Council

Apprenticeship Ambassador Award

Sponsored by Hill

Finalists:

• Grace Dawson, EPA Coordinator, Explosive Learning Solutions
• Max Evans, Apprentice Recruitment Assistant, University of Oxford
• Jack Paviour, Administrative Officer – Digital Infrastructure Team, Oxfordshire County Council 

Careers Champion Award

Sponsored by The Engineering Trust

• Hannah Gordon, Careers Leader, Fitzwaryn School
• Hayley Laughlin, Post-14 Lead, Bardwell School
• Jessica Manns, Careers Lead, Subject Lead of History & Humanities Teacher, Greyfriars Catholic School 

Inspiring the Future Award

Sponsored by Oxford Professional Education

Finalists:

• Abbott Diabetes Care
• Morgan Sindall Construction
• Oxford Playhouse Trust

Training Provider Individual Award

Sponsored by NielsenIQ

Finalists:

• Mark Dickson, Apprentice Trainer, MTC Training Ltd
• Justin Merritt, CEO / Director, Ignite Training
• Heidi Silvester, Assessor / Tutor, Introtrain & Forum Limited / Oxford International College of Beauty

Apprenticeship Employer of the Year (<250 Employees) Award

Sponsored by Assure UK 

Finalists:

• Edgars
• Olamalu
• PMC

Apprenticeship Employer of the Year (250+ Employees) Award

Sponsored by Owen Mumford 

Finalists:

• Milestone Infrastructure
• Oxfordshire County Council
• University of Oxford

Oxfordshire Apprentice of the Year

Sponsored by Oxford North

• To be chosen by the headline sponsor Oxford North from the winners of the 5 apprentice award categories

Thank you sponsors and supporters

We would like to say a massive thank you to our headline sponsor Oxford North and all our category sponsors.

We would also like to say a huge thank you to all our other generous sponsors and supporters: Abingdon & Witney College, Activate Apprenticeships, Darke & Taylor, High Spec Composites, Jonas Software, Olamalu, Oxfordshire Advanced Skills, Oxford Brookes University, Oxfordshire County Council, South East Apprenticeship Ambassador Network, Siemens Healthineers, University of Oxford and Williams Racing.

Harriet Stuchbury, Senior Consultant at building performance specialists LCMB explains how SMEs within the facilities management sector can benefit from the apprenticeship levy transfer scheme.

We spend up to 90% of our working lives in buildings, so at LCMB we’ve made it our mission to make sure that buildings perform as well as they possibly can. High performance to us means buildings that contribute to the long term goals of an organisation, allowing building users and organisations to thrive. We’re a small team of consultants based in Adderbury, just outside of Banbury, in Oxfordshire, and though we may be small, our client list is as large and diverse as a Facilities Manager’s to do list.

Our consultants are subject matter experts who help our clients navigate challenges, improve operations and achieve their goals by offering expertise, objective analysis and practical solutions. From concept through to completion, LCMB deliver building optimisation projects that improve your workplaces’ infrastructure and facilities, energy consumption and performance, by delivering a sustainable programme that will drive tangible cost savings and improve your return on investment.

As an SME in the FM sector, we’re noticing, much like other businesses across the sector, that there is a significant skills shortage. With the range of projects we lead for our clients, we need to be agile, adaptable, and have breadth as well as depth of experience. Taking on a degree apprentice gives that individual the experience of the workplace whilst they’re learning. Being both student and consultant gives them the skills to adapt to solve the task at hand, which as a consultant is a vital skill. It also helps our productivity, which is not to say we give the “boring” or “less-important” jobs to the apprentice.

Our Degree Apprentice Consultant, Dominic Hayes, started with us in September 2023. He has been doing data analysis of energy consumption for a number of NHS hospitals, providing support in report writing for a top London university and project management support for a large UK business park. We feel that giving him tasks that contribute to his learning, and make a real-life impact in the work that we produce for our clients shows that we trust him straight away and gives him a sense of responsibility and ownership.

Dom is working towards achieving a BEng (Hons) Building Service Design Engineer Level 6, which covers areas such as heating and ventilation systems, internal environment and comfort, construction practice, energy management, and building services engineering principles. The modules suit both our business and client requirements as we deliver projects that help our clients improve their building infrastructure and seek to save costs on energy. These are all modules that Dom has been able to put into immediate practice.

Dom said: “My daily responsibilities at LCMB compliment my studies and I find the work I do at university seamlessly integrates with my role. There is a broad scope of technical knowledge I acquire from university work which I can apply directly to my job, such as understanding technical drawings and using software such as AutoCAD and Revit. This connection between academic learning and practical application ensures a well-rounded approach to my skill development.”

As an Oxfordshire based SME, we have always had a close relationship with Oxfordshire Local Enterprise Partnership (OxLEP) Skills, a local organisation who aim to maximise the full potential of every person who lives and works in the county. They have supported us previously with advertising job roles and have made us aware of careers fairs aimed at school leavers. It was OxLEP who made us aware of the apprenticeship levy transfer, a scheme where employers who do not utilise all their apprenticeship levy themselves can pledge up to 25 per cent of their funds to support SMEs, charities and social enterprises.

Fully-funded through the Social Contract Programme, OxLEP Skills’ Apprenticeship Advisors provide expert, impartial advice to support employers with all aspects of apprenticeships, from start to completion, helping to generate new opportunities for local people to take the first step on their career ladder, retrain or upskill. This includes supporting organisations that pay the apprenticeship levy – those with an annual PAYE bill of more than £3 million – to make best use of these funds to support apprenticeship training and assessment. Employers that don’t utilise all their apprenticeship levy themselves can pledge up to 25% of their funds to support SMEs, charities and social enterprises. OxLEP Skills’ Apprenticeship Advisors find local matches for these pledges, retaining the funds in Oxfordshire to support apprenticeship growth and skills development within the county.

OxLEP’s Apprenticeship Advisor, Leah Bryan, matched us with kitchens, joinery and hardware firm, Howdens, who made a pledge of £79,000 of their levy, specifically to support construction apprenticeships in Oxfordshire, to fund Dom’s apprenticeship training. Emma Leech, Howdens’ Early Careers Manager said of the relationship: “Howdens is founded on the principle of being worthwhile for all concerned. We are committed to helping create opportunities for people to learn new skills in our industry, which is why we have partnered with OxLEP to use our levy transfers to fund apprenticeships in a variety of trades.”

Being matched with Howdens and receiving this pledge with the support of Leah and OxLEP Skills was a straightforward process for us and we would encourage other SMEs to do the same. It required very little effort from our side but the benefit is huge! By taking advantage of Howdens generous pledge, we are not only able to provide valuable experience and learning opportunities for our degree apprentice, but we are also contributing to the growth and development of the construction industry in Oxfordshire. This collaborative approach ensures that we are addressing the skills shortage in our sector while also supporting the local community and economy.

At LCMB, we believe in the power of apprenticeships to bridge the skills gap and drive innovation in the FM and construction sector. We strongly urge other Oxfordshire SMEs to get in touch with OxLEP Skills to explore the apprenticeship levy transfer scheme and take advantage of the opportunity to nurture talent, support local skills development and contribute to the overall growth and success of their industry.

For support to make a pledge, or to access pledged funds, contact skills@oxfordshirelep.com.

Find out more about the apprenticeship support available to employers from OxLEP Skills:

‘Any businesses that are thinking about pledging apprenticeship levy, speak to OxLEP Skills and you’ll be surprised how easy it is! With their support and a 15 minute Teams call, the pledge was live on the system!’

Award-winning 5-star housebuilder The Hill Group are one of a growing number of employers to pledge some of their apprenticeship levy to fund training and assessment for smaller businesses in Oxfordshire through OxLEP Skills’ Social Contract Programme.

Siân Rebourg, Head of Social Value at Hill, was surprised how straightforward making a pledge was. She said: “As platinum members of the 5% club, Hill is committed to supporting new entrants into the industry and recognises the importance of apprenticeships and earn as you learn programmes. We want to support our supply chain and other SME companies in recruiting talent into their businesses through pledging our unspent levy but weren’t sure how to do this.”

“With the support of OxLEP Skills’ Apprenticeship Advisor Nikki Cooper and a 15 minute Teams call, the pledge was live on the system – it was really straightforward and Nikki explained every step. It’s great that we can pledge our levy for the skills needed to keep moving our industry forward. And to see those in the communities that we work in gaining the right skills to have successful careers within our field. Any businesses that are thinking about pledging, speak to OxLEP Skills and you’ll be surprised how easy it is!”

With support from Nikki, Hill has pledged £70,277 and specified that the funds are to be used to support apprenticeships in construction. This has already paid for training for three Level 2 Carpentry Apprentices.

Hill is one of three construction partners working on-site delivering Oxford North, a new innovation district for the city, which will deliver one million sq ft of labs and workspaces, 480 new homes, hotel, nursery, amenities, three new public parks and significant investment in travelling around sustainably.

Victoria Collett, Development Director, Thomas White Oxford, the development company of St John’s College, said: “We are delighted that Hill’s apprenticeship levy has been shared in Oxfordshire to support the local supply chain – and such a significant amount too.”

“Our project is a significant and intended stimulant for the local economy and employment market. We are working with Oxford City Council and OxLEP to create aspiration and opportunity for local people in various ways, one of which is unlocking levy funding to support apprentices learning locally. Thank you Hill and OxLEP and to Storey Consulting, our social value consultant who helped to make this happen.”

To date, the Social Contract Programme has generated over £2.3M in apprenticeship levy funds for Oxfordshire, with more than £230,000 supporting construction apprenticeships. Levy transfers have so far supported 28 construction apprenticeships with local SMEs, including:

• Level 7 Chartered Town Planner
• Level 6 Building Service Design Engineer
• Level 4 Construction Site Supervisor
• Level 3 Advanced Carpentry and Joinery
• Level 3 Craft Carpentry and Joinery
• Level 3 Plumbing and domestic Heating Technician
• Level 2 Bricklayer
• Level 2 Carpentry and Joinery

For support to make a pledge, or to access pledged funds, contact skills@oxfordshirelep.com.

Find out more about the apprenticeship support available to employers from OxLEP Skills: