More than 130 guests - including local businesses, apprentices, assessors, and their supporters - gathered for a glamorous black-tie evening at Nottingham’s Crowne Plaza Hotel on 8th July, as Nottingham College proudly hosted its fourth annual Apprenticeship Awards.
As one of the region’s leading providers of apprenticeship training, Nottingham College created this event to honour the achievements of apprentices and the businesses that support them. The awards shine a light on the transformative impact of apprenticeships - not just on individuals, but also on employers and the wider community.
The evening celebrated talent across a wide range of sectors, from health and science to engineering, construction, hospitality, retail, professional services, and digital industries. It also recognised the vital contributions of tutors, mentors, managers, and employers who play a key role in guiding apprentices throughout their journey.
Thirteen outstanding winners were announced across various categories, with several highly commended nominees also receiving recognition. Each honouree was invited to the stage to receive their award or certificate, presented by the award sponsor.
Joshua Coules, 25, from Newark, has been named Engineering and Manufacturing Apprentice of the Year in recognition of his positive attitude, emerging leadership, and dedication to learning.
Employed by Roadgas - a Colwick-based company that builds and maintains refuelling stations for cleaner, renewable energy - Joshua has become a highly valued and respected team member during his two and a half years with the business.
Adding to his achievements, Joshua also received the prestigious Overall Apprentice of the Year award.
He said: “I feel really proud. At the start of the year, I wasn’t sure I wanted to do an apprenticeship, but my employers pushed me knowing it would be good for me. I’ve never really been academic, I’ve always been hands on so doing physical work alongside a little bit of writing has helped me put my head down, enabling me to do the things I like doing.
“My tutor Richard has been great, I was struggling with maths at the start of the year, but anything I needed, he was on the other side of the phone supporting me through it.
“Studying an apprenticeship is really good for someone like me, who doesn’t get on well in classrooms, it’s turned out really great and I’ve really enjoyed it.”
Steer Automotive Group earned the title of ‘Large Employer of the Year’. Jim Swan, Academy Development Manager, said:
“We feel very privileged about winning this award, it’s something we didn’t expect.
“We have a close relationship with Nottingham College and choose to put our apprentices through their programme because we believe it offers the best pathway for their development and success, the college provides first class accommodation and support to their students."
Nottingham College CEO/Principal, Janet Smith, said: "Our annual Apprenticeship Awards are a proud celebration of excellence - recognising not only the remarkable accomplishments of our apprentices but also the unwavering commitment of their tutors, employers, and partners. We are incredibly proud of all our winners and shortlisted nominees, and we hope this milestone marks the beginning of many more achievements in their professional journeys."
The full list of awardees and sponsors are:
- Tutor/Assessor of the Year (sponsored by CEMA LTD) – Tina Chapman
- Apprentice Experience of the Year (sponsored by Eastwood Hall) – Bradley Foley
- SME Employer of the Year (sponsored by Niblett and Price Construction Ltd) – Citreus Catering
- Large Employer of the Year (sponsored by East Midlands Airport) – Steer Automotive Group
- Apprentice Champion of the Year (sponsored by Steer Automotive Group) – Ashley Smith
- Engineering and Manufacturing Apprentice of the Year (sponsored by Blackburn Starling - Joshua Coules
- Automotive Apprentice of the Year (sponsored by Halfords) – Ricardo Zeeman
- Professional Services and Digital Apprentice of the Year (sponsored by Rhames Ltd) – Lucy Mills
- Construction Apprentice of the Year (sponsored by Oakfield Construction – Ben Pearson
- Health, Science and Care Apprentice of the Year (sponsored by Nottingham University Hospitals) – Lindsey Noton
- Hospitality and Retail Apprentice of the Year (sponsored by WHY Hospitality) — Jozef Burrell-Hughes
- Overall Apprentice of the Year (sponsored by Mindful Education) – Joshua Coules