THE achievements of dozens of apprentices were celebrated at an awards ceremony in York.

The York Apprenticeships Graduation and Awards were held at the Grand Opera House on Wednesday night and saw dozens of people walking away with awards across a host of categories.

This year the apprentice of the year – under 25s (smaller employer) award went to Sam Sugden, pictured below, a junior electrical engineer at Anderson Green Ltd; Level 3 and HNC in Electrical Engineering, supported by training providers Pearson and York College

Sam had to change jobs within the same sector from one company to another and chose to redo a year’s worth of apprenticeship work to ensure that it fitted closely with the ethos, company values and new job role that he had at Anderson Green.

The nomination was submitted by Andy Moss, director of the company and includes a testimony from a client about the quality and precision of the technical drawings provided by Sam and highlights the confidence of more senior staff to move this junior apprentice on to large, multi-million pound industrial projects at an early stage.

Within a year of joining the company, Sam has now taken on his first independent project design for a 2000m2 primary school and is also near completion of his HNC – way ahead of schedule.

Sam is now acting as a mentor & role model to the company’s newest apprentice who started in August and Mr Moss, said: “With a huge skills shortage in the engineering design industry, having talented apprentices like Sam is inspiring and reassuring that the future is bright in the industry. With the input from college tutors, Sam has brought in new ideas helping to keep the company ‘current’ and gives a fresh perspective to all of us in the company.”

After receiving the award Sam said: “I’m very overwhelmed, and to not only be nominated for the award, but to win the award is such a rewarding feeling. It’s great to know my efforts have been recognised and gives me real motivation to push on further and take the next step up to progress my education at degree level. I’d also like to thank Anderson Green for providing me with the great opportunities associated with my position and for supporting me in my education as well.”

Apprentice of the year – under 25s (larger employer) went to Joe Boothman, a public health technical officer at City of York Council; Level 3 business administration supported by York Learning.

Joe took a bold decision to move from a different trade, as a machinist, to an apprentice technical assistant role in the public health team at City of York Council, helping to coordinate systems to monitor, validate and arrange payments for a range of commissioned services.

The nomination was submitted by their line manager, Karen Robinson, and the panel were particularly impressed by the testimonies from other members of the wider team who worked with Joe when their line manager was on long term absence.

The testimonies talk about the confidence and ability of Joe to learn quickly, get involved, take ownership of projects beyond his primary duties and seek out additional training opportunities to support his development. This included developing public health and well-being campaigns for ‘flu’, the ‘carecent’ charity appeal, supporting the ‘recovery games’ and visiting numerous schools to talk about apprenticeships and inspire the next generation.

At the end of Joe’s 12 months apprenticeship qualification, he has been successful in a promotion to become a public health technical officer and has already secured the support of the management team to embark on accountancy training for the new role.

Ms Robinson said: “Joe stands out for the positive outlook on challenging issues that we have to tackle in public health within the city. He remains professional at all times, whilst also recognising that asking how colleagues, stakeholders and residents are and taking an interest in our communities is a key part of contributing to a successful team and working environment. He cares about his job and the issues that the team are supporting, and he cares about those that he works with. Joe is someone that you can count on and his contribution to the public health department has been fantastic.’

After receiving the award Joe said: “I was totally shocked when my name was read out, I just couldn’t believe that I had won the award even after the event it hadn’t sunk in, but I’m proud of myself and the hard work I’ve put in and that my manager and colleagues appreciate that with a heart warming nomination, I couldn’t be more grateful.”

Apprentice of the year (over 25s)

Lee Russell – a former jockey, now working at the farm of RG Brader; Higher Level 4 in Agricultural Business Management, supported by Askham Bryan College, which included a new enterprise plan for the farm.

Lee said: “I am thrilled to have won the award. I thoroughly enjoyed my apprenticeship qualification and owe this to the lecturers at Askham Bryan College who helped and supported me throughout the course. I am now incorporating my learning into my working life with the support of my employer.”

Larger Employer of the Year went to Fera, which has 400 employees and its origins in delivering world-class science based solutions across the agri-food chain for more than 100 years ago. Since 2013, Fera has taken on 34 Advanced Level 3 Lab Technician apprentices, many of whom have continued employment at Fera, with one of their first apprentices subsequently promoted to apprentice manager. Fera have worked with York College to launch a Level 5 apprenticeship programme next year, and plans for a Level 6 degree apprenticeship in the future.

Rick Mumford, director of science, said: “As one of York’s largest employers we are extremely pleased that our work with York College to support the local economy by employing some of the area’s talented young people has been recognised in this way, especially as this accolade also helps to further raise the profile of key employment opportunities in STEM subjects. The fact that many stay on to work at Fera is testament to their talent and enthusiasm for the work we do. We look forward to even more apprentices joining us in the future, through our existing Laboratory Assistant Apprenticeship and the Level 5 apprenticeship being launched next year. We see recruiting home grown fresh talent’ through career apprenticeships as central to our growth strategy in the future.”

The award for Smaller Employer of the Year which went to The Smile Room, owned by Catherine Tannahill, which currently employs 15 staff including two dentist nurse apprentices who both graduated at the ceremony and Maya and Philippa are not the first apprentices to have been supported by the business.

York Press:

Apprenticeships 2017
Matthew Barton, Performing Manufacturing Operations 2, Intermediate ARC Workwear YH Training Services; Jae Beavers, Social Media and Digital Marketing 3, Advanced City of York Council 3AAAs; Joe Boothman, Business Admin 3 Advanced City of York Council York Learning; Loretta Boyes Health and Social Care 3, Advanced MCQ; Bianca Boynton, Management 2, Intermediate Animalcare Ltd Intraining Group Ltd; Brianna Bratley, Business Admin 3, Advanced NYBEP 3AAA; Jayne Chappell, Management 5, Higher City of York Council City of York Council; Leanne Crangle Health Pharmacy Services 3, Advanced York Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust Bradford College; Ben Craven, AAT 4, Higher Garbutt and Elliott LLP KAPLAN; Charlie Darley Food and Drink 3, Advanced NESTLE UK LTD West Nottinghamshire College; Sophie Davies, LATA 3, Advanced Syngenta York College; Lydia Drury Dental Nursing 3, Advanced The Smile Rooms Learndirect; Amy Elsworth, Early Years Educator 3, Advanced Jigsaws Childcare Ltd York Learning; Kyle Estienne, Electrotechnical 3, Advanced STN Electrical York College; Laura Faulkner, Laboratory and Associated Technical Activities 3, Advanced Fera Science York College; Georgia Frank, Business Admin 3, Advanced Fenton Simpson Financial Services Ltd York College; Rhys Gabb, IT, Infrastructure Technician 3, Advanced City of York Council QA Ltd; Amy Glenister, Dental Nursing 3, Advanced Pickering Dental Health Practice York College, Patricia Graca Health and Social Care 3, Advanced Amelia House / Four Seasons Health Care Babcock Training Ltd; Hannah Gray, Childcare 3, Advanced Sunshine Day Nursery York Learning; Megan Greenaway Hospitality 2, Intermediate York Marriott Babcock Training Ltd; Gregory Andrew,  Business Admin 3, Advanced Aquarius Railroad Technologies Ltd; Bethany Grimes, Hospitality Services 2, Intermediate Monkbar Hotel, York College; Emily Grimes Business Admin 2, Intermediate York College; Maya Harbun, Business Admin 3, Advanced Prospect Health 3AAAs; Natalie Hatfield, Health and Social Care 3, Advanced Lifestyle Care Derwentside College; Berle Kedus, Health and Social Care 2, Intermediate Educare Staffing Ltd MCQ; Louise Kiddle, Dental Nursing 3, Advanced Pickering Dental Health Practice, York College; Ben Lacey, Manufacturing in Meat & Poultry 3, Advanced Weatons of Harrogate Leeds City College; Amy Lawrenson, Business Admin 3, Advanced Sbm Corporate Management, York College; Stuart Leeming, Business Admin 2, Intermediate York Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust YH Training Services; Tom Leighton, Electrical 3, Advanced S M Briscombe Electrical Engineers, York College; Lewis Long IT, Software, Web & Telecoms Professional 3, Advanced YORK DATA SERVICES LIMITED, York College; Harvey Maher, Prof Cookery 2, Intermediate Meltons Babcock Training Ltd; Megan McCollin-Smith, Business and Administration 3, Advanced York Explore Libraries 3AAAs; Abi McMullan, Business Admin 2, Intermediate Joseph Rowntree Foundation YH Training Services; Julian Moody, Hospitality and Catering 3, Advanced Monkbar Hotel Babcock Training Ltd; Laura Moody, Management 3, Advanced York Helpers Homecare Babcock Training Ltd; Scott Mullikin, Installing Electrotechnical Systems and Equipment 3, Advanced PHS Electrical Engineering, York College; Dale O’Callaghan, Customer Service 3, Advanced The Britannia Grand Intraining Group Ltd; Michelle Orman, Management 3, Advanced Integrated Dental Holdings Ltd Intraining Group Ltd; Mark Oxley, Leadership in Care 5, Higher Superior Care Homes Ltd MCQ; Bethany Parry, Business Admin 2, Intermediate City of York Council York Learning; Zoe Pearson, Dental Nursing 3, Advanced A Jones Dental Practice NECC/Northern Skills; Fiona Piggott, Health and Social Care 3, Advanced Lifestyle Care, Derwentside College; Daniel Pilcher, Manufacturing in Meat & Poultry 3, Advanced Butchers Block Leeds City College; George Plant, Hospitality Services 2, Intermediate Piglets HIT Training; Philippa Porter, Dental Nursing 3, Advanced The Smile Rooms Learndirect; Clare Potter, Children and Young People’s Workforce 3, Advanced Burnholme Nursery York Learning; Josh Poulter, Electrotechnical 3, Advanced Portakabin Limited JTL; Will Pycroft, Engineering Manufacture (Operator and Semi) 3, Advanced NESTLE UK LTD. York College; Millie Rayson, Business Admin 2, Intermediate Acorn Finance YH Training Services; Terry Richardson, Financial Services 3, Advanced Aviva Intraining Group Ltd; Ben Ripley Smith, ICT Systems & Principles 3, Advanced PureNet 3AAAs;  Vienna Robertson, Business Admin 2, Intermediate Greenshoot Specialised Brain Injury Services, York College; Joe Rudd, CIMA 4, Higher Nestlé; Lee Russell, Farm Management 4, Higher Charles Braber, Askham Bryan; Simon Scaife, Engineering 3, Advanced Nestle, York College; Gergana Shishmanova, Hospitality and Catering 2, Intermediate Marriott Hotel York Babcock; Rebecca Skelton, IT, Software, Web & Telecoms Professional 3, Advanced NESTLE UK LTD QA Ltd; Matthew Snell, Engineering 3, Advanced Arup, York College; Megan Spendlow, Business and Administration 3, Advanced City of York Council; Danielle Stead, LATA 3, Advanced Syngenta, York College; Ella Stubbs, Social Media and Digital Marketing 3, Advanced The Wedding Affair & Wedding Hour 3AAAs; Sam Sugden, Engineering Manufacture 3, Advanced Anderson Green Engineering, York College; Attila Szekeres, Hospitality & Catering 2, Intermediate Ask Restaurant HIT Training; Amie Tanner AAT 4, Higher Garbutt and Elliott LLP KAPLAN; Emmie Theakstone, Health and Social Care 2, Intermediate Lifestyle Care, Derwentside College; Joseph Thompson Retail Knowledge & Skills 2, Intermediate Gear 4 Music The Academy of Music and Sound; Adam Turner, Banker Masonry 3, Advanced Myers Group, York College; Megan Varley, Business Admin 2, Intermediate Joseph Rowntree Foundation YH Training Services; Sam Varo, Business Admin 2, Intermediate NHS Vale of York CCG, York College; Abbie Waddington, Health and Social Care 2, Intermediate Lifestyle Care, Derwentside College; Robbie Welford, Manufacturing in Meat & Poultry 3, Advanced B Glaves and Sons, Leeds City College; Tracy White, Learning & Development 3, Advanced Tesco Intaining Group Ltd; Emma Willoughby, Management 3, Advanced Learndirect; Jessica Winskill, Hospitality and Catering 2, Intermediate The Cedar Court Grand Hotel & Spa Ltd Babcock Training Ltd; Megan Woodward, Dental Nursing 3, Advanced Pickering Dental Health Practice, York College; Joanne Woolley, Professional Marketing 4, Higher STEM Learning CIM; Linda Kiss, Front of House Cedar Court Hotel Babcock Training Ltd.