Award Winners 2020
The National Apprenticeship Awards 2020 National Ceremony took place via a live online broadcast, hosted by BBC’s Dan Walker on 25th November 2020.
The 'Excellence in Apprenticeships' themed Awards ceremony showcased individual and employer success stories, recognising apprenticeships as a fast-track to a great career and enabler of business growth.
You can find out more about our 2020 national winners below.
Your Winners
Troup Bywaters + Anders
The BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT, Award for SME Employer of the Year
Troup Bywaters + Anders are a high-performing building services engineering consultancy. Established in 1958, they employ 240 people across eight UK offices, with engineering and business support apprentices now comprising 20% of their workforce.
Their apprenticeship programme is the soul of their partnership, bringing energy to established teams, who take pride in nurturing and developing talent. They believe it’s about instilling a sense of commitment, as well as passing on knowledge, and this ethos is what makes their partnership so strong and unique.
Maisey Hammond
The AstraZeneca Award for Intermediate Apprentice of the Year
Maisey Hammond has just completed a Level 2 apprenticeship in business administration with Stroud District Council in Gloucestershire. Maisey believes that the apprenticeship pathway has given her the information and inspiration she needed, enabling her to become more confident, more professional and more proactive in finding the right career path. Not only has she received outstanding feedback from her team but she has also been able to create her own brand and website, generating a small additional income.
WEC Group
The British Army Award for Large Employer of the Year
WEC Group is an engineering company with around 850 staff and 60+ apprentices in advanced disciplines including welding/fabrication and mechanical engineering. They are fully committed to investing in apprenticeships to fill the skills gap and drive their own growth, and since opening their Academy in 2006, have grown from 200 to 850 staff. This proactive approach means they now have some of the best welders/fabricators in the UK, as evidenced by the highest scores ever recorded at WorldSkills UK twice in a row.
Chris Jones
The BT Award for Advanced Apprentice of the Year
Chris Jones is an Engineering Technician in the experimental workshops at JCB where he is completing a Level 3 apprenticeship. Once qualified, he will be able to develop further by completing a higher education course, and become a multi-skilled and proactive individual. Chris exceeded employers’ expectations during his time on the world’s fastest tractor project, where he was able to take real ownership of his work and demonstrate his passion. He feels this apprenticeship was the best decision he has ever made.
Laurie Weatherall
The Royal Navy Award for Higher or Degree Apprentice of the Year
Laurie Weatherall is a third year business and supply chain degree apprentice working as a Global Material Planner at GSK Ware.
Her apprenticeship allows her to work towards her degree in an environment where she learns invaluable life and business skills from industry experts who share her values and expectations. Highly valued for her endless enthusiasm, hard work and commitment, she has built communication skills and confidence and enjoys developing herself whilst acting as a role model to others.
BAE Systems plc
The QA Award for Macro Employer of the Year
BAE Systems is a global aerospace, defence and security company, with 34,000 employees at sites across the UK.
They offer 50 apprenticeship programmes, employing 2025 apprentices in England alone.
BAE Systems are proud of their apprentices and apprentice provision, equipping learners with the skills and experience they need to flourish and provide expertise vital to the UK economy. The success of their programmes has encouraged them to continue innovating and this year they’re recruiting a record number of apprentices despite difficult economic conditions.
Jenny Taylor
The Royal Air Force Award for Apprentice Champion of the Year
Jenny Taylor is the leader of IBM UK’s Early Professionals Programmes, and the Chair of the Digital and Technology Solutions Level 6 Degree Apprenticeship Trailblazer.
She is passionate about enabling young people from all backgrounds to aspire to exciting and fulfilling career opportunities through apprenticeships and alongside creating a high-quality apprenticeship programme she also promotes apprenticeships on national TV, radio, the national press, social media and in speaking engagements.
County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service
The Accenture Award for Recruitment Excellence
CDDFRS responds to emergency calls from 18 locations. They employ 550 staff, approximately 25% of which are currently on a range of apprenticeship standards. They have seen an increase in the diversity of their workforce, as well as increased engagement with younger people, who see them as a professional and inclusive organisation offering a rewarding long-term career. They believe the apprenticeship programme delivers a more rounded employee who is a role model for the Service’s values and behaviours.
Howard Jackson
The Lloyds Banking Group Award for Rising Star of the Year
Howard Jackson is a digital and technology degree apprentice, and financial services sector Senior Consultant for IBM.
Passionate and driven, he has been at IBM for over five years and is eager to grow his career in the industry. Howard’s main hobbies are training in the gym and running. He also enjoys spending time with family and friends and is a big Chelsea FC fan. He likes to spend his holidays travelling to different countries and experiencing different cultures, which he finds very rewarding.