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 award-winning 5 star housebuilder The Hill Group as our headline sponsor.
Here, Ryan Harris, Regional Director at The Hill Group, explains why they have chosen to be the headline sponsor and what apprenticeships mean to them.
Why are you supporting the Oxfordshire Apprenticeship Awards and what it means to you to be the headline sponsor?
As a rapidly growing business, Hill recognises the crucial importance of attracting talented individuals and nurturing their development to ensure our industry’s workforce continues to evolve. We believe that one of the most effective ways to train and develop future professionals is through hands-on apprenticeships, where individuals can acquire technical knowledge and gain practical experience while earning a respectable salary. For this reason, we decided to support the Oxfordshire Apprenticeship Awards as the headline sponsor – to raise awareness of apprenticeship programmes and to commend the hard work and dedication of apprentices in the local region.
Being the headline sponsor means a great deal to us. It allows us to actively contribute to celebrating the achievements of apprentices and to highlight the significant impact they have on the industry. 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 make informed career choices. We are proud to recognise and support this through our sponsorship of the awards.
What are you looking for in the overall Apprentice of the Year?
We are seeking an inspirational individual who goes the extra mile – not only demonstrating exceptional commitment to their learning and growth over time but also inspiring the next generation by sharing their experiences. This person should exemplify excellence in their field, show remarkable personal development, and actively contribute to the industry by motivating others.
What would you say to anyone thinking about entering or nominating?
Go for it! Be proud of what you have achieved, and seize this opportunity to celebrate your hard work – whether you are an apprentice or a mentor considering nominating an apprentice. This is a chance to recognise excellence, inspire others in the industry and highlight the value of apprenticeships in building successful careers.
Tell us about your organisation’s experience of apprenticeships
The Hill Group is very passionate about the apprenticeship route. As a business, 17% of our staff have either completed or are currently enrolled in the Hill Management Trainee Programme, achieving degree-level qualifications through an “earn as you learn” role. We were recently awarded Gold status from The 5% Club in recognition of our commitment to apprenticeships.
We also encourage our supply chain to recruit or support apprentices through a shared apprenticeship scheme, recognising how vital on-site experience is for apprentices to achieve their qualifications and build successful careers in our industry.
Hill is excited to be working in the Oxford region and is keen to recruit local people to progress through our company. If you are interested in our Management Trainee Programme or apprenticeship opportunities 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 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.