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 at a special awards ceremony on Thursday 16 May 2024 at Williams Racing Conference Centre.
We’re delighted to introduce Grundon as sponsor of the Intermediate Apprentice of the Year Award, which will recognise level 2 apprentices who have excelled in their work, learning and development and made exceptional contributions to their workplaces.
Grundon provides a total waste management service for the collection, treatment, recycling, recovery and disposal of all non-hazardous waste streams, including general waste, mixed recycling, paper cups, confidential waste and food waste.
Here, Lorraine Milburn, Head of HR, explains why Grundon 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?
Over the past 12 months, Grundon have actively increased the number of quality apprenticeships within our business, and by supporting the Oxfordshire Apprenticeship Awards, this demonstrates our wider commitment to the development of new skills and experiences that can be offered through apprenticeship programmes, not just within our business, but in the wider local areas in which we operate.
We have chosen the category of Intermediate Apprentice of the Year award to demonstrate our support to entry level apprentices, who are at the start of their chosen career path.
What are you looking for in the winner of your category?
The winner of the category will be able to demonstrate their enthusiasm to their programme, demonstrating the implementation of their learning within the workplace, and their progression in the early stages of their careers.
What would you say to anyone thinking about entering or nominating?
Apprenticeships offer a great opportunity to learn new skills, which can be actively applied and demonstrated within the workplace. A nomination or entry to the awards is a great way to showcase and celebrate the progress you / your apprentice has made within their role, and how they have progressed so far in their role.
Tell us about your organisation’s experience of apprenticeships
Grundon have long utilised apprenticeships within our vehicle workshops, and have had great success in this field, with two of our recent workshop managers starting their careers as apprentices.
Over the past 12 months, we have widened our scope of apprentices within the business, upskilling current employees with aspirations to progress their careers, and offering new opportunities to people joining our business in a variety of apprenticeship roles, including sales, human resources, administration and engineering.
About the awards
The awards will be open for entries and nominations until midnight on the evening of Monday 19 February 2024. Finalists will be announced during Oxfordshire Apprenticeships Hour (hashtag #OAHour) on Twitter @OxonApprentice from 13:00 on Thursday 18 April 2024. Winners will be announced at a special awards ceremony on Thursday 16 May 2024.
If you would like the opportunity to support the awards, please get in touch.
Join us for Oxfordshire Apprenticeships Hour (#OAHour) on Twitter @OxonApprentice from 13:00-14:00 every Thursday for latest on the Awards and join in the conversation using the hashtag #OAAwards2024.