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 award-winning 5 star housebuilder Hill as sponsor of the Apprenticeship Ambassador Award, which will recognise individuals who go the extra mile to champion and promote apprenticeships in Oxfordshire.
Here, Ryan Harris, Regional Director at Hill Group UK (pictured left), 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?
As a rapidly growing business, Hill recognises the need for new talent coming into the industry and we believe one of the best ways to train and develop is through an apprenticeship, where you can learn the technical knowledge alongside gaining practical experience. So we are supporting the Oxfordshire Apprenticeship Awards to commend the hard work and effort of the apprentices in the local region and recognise their aptitude to be nominated for these awards. As a local employer, we are committed to recruiting apprentices.
Some of our apprentices are part of the OxLEP Apprenticeship Ambassador Scheme and we know how powerful it is for apprentices to share their experiences to inspire the next generation and help them to make informed career choices. We are proud to be able to recognise that through this award.
What are you looking for in the winner of your category?
We are looking for an inspirational individual who goes the extra mile to inspire the next generation through sharing their experiences.
What would you say to anyone thinking about entering or nominating?
Please do it! Be proud of what you have achieved and take this opportunity to celebrate whether you are an apprentice or a mentor who is nominating an apprentice.
Tell us about your organisation’s experience of apprenticeships
Hill Group are passionate about the apprenticeship route and as a business, we have 17% of our staff who have either been through or are currently on the Hill Management Trainee programme, achieving a degree-level qualification through an ‘earn as you learn’ role. We have recently been awarded Gold from the 5% club in recognition of our commitment to apprenticeships.
We encourage our supply chain to recruit or support apprentices through a shared apprenticeship scheme and recognise how vital site experience is to achieving their qualifications and building successful careers in our industry.
Hill are excited to be working in the Oxford region and are seeking to recruit local people to progress through our company. If you are interested in our Management Trainee programme or an apprenticeship opportunity with our supply chain, please get in touch at trainees@hill.co.uk.
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.