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 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 Training Provider Individual Award. This award will recognise individuals working for organisations that provide apprenticeship training in Oxfordshire who go the extra mile to support and encourage apprentices and enable them to achieve to their potential.
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 training providers do around the Oxfordshire area. We are sponsoring the Training Provider Individual Award as we want to do our part in recognising the individuals who go above and beyond in supporting and developing our apprentices 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 pupils, is dedicated to their role and shows genuine support and compassion towards individuals who are on an apprenticeship journey.
What would you say to anyone thinking about entering or nominating?
We highly encourage any training provider thinking about entering or nominating to do so. The awards offer a fantastic platform to showcase what individuals at training providers bring to your apprentices and demonstrate their support for local 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.
Our scheme has continued to evolve, with the current UK apprentice population sitting at 24.
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.