Exceptional Apprentices and Employers Celebrate at Glittering Awards Ceremony

Exeter College has held its annual awards celebrating the achievements of exceptional apprentices and their employers.

More than 160 apprentices, employers, civic and business leaders, friends and family attended the glittered awards ceremony, sponsored by law firm Foot Anstey.

The evening at Sandy Park saw the celebration of achievements of 11 apprentice winners, five employer winners and the presentation of two special recognition awards.

Outstanding apprentice winner Niccolas Marshall, from Newton Abbot, who is an apprentice at Arconic was given the award of ‘Apprentice of the Year’.

The employer winners named at the awards were Horizon Childcare, MB Aerospace / Centrax, and swcomms. Meanwhile, the special contribution award winners were Jonathan Cresswell, from the University of Exeter, who was bestowed with the Apprenticeship Innovation Award, and Janet Francis, GWR, presented with the Contribution to Apprenticeships Award.

This year’s event marks an outstanding year, having achieved a record apprenticeship success rate of 83% and engaging the highest number of more than 1,000 apprentices. The awards took place on Thursday, February 22nd.

Rob Bosworth, Vice Principal, Exeter College, said: “Exeter College was delighted to spend the evening acknowledging some of the best apprentices and employer partnerships in the region.

“It showed that apprentices now have access to the very best employer training and technical education in the country. We would like to thank Foot Anstey, our sponsors, and all the employers that came to recognise the achievements of their exceptional apprentices.”

Simon Gregory, Chairman of Foot Anstey, said: “We were delighted to sponsor this inspirational event which showcased Exeter College's exceptional performance in promoting and developing its apprenticeship programmes.”

As well as nominated apprentices and employers, other key businesses and partners attended including Plymouth City Council, NatWest, the Met Office, the Royal Devon & Exeter NHS Foundation Trust, Devon County Council, and Taylor Wimpey. Exeter College has a substantial network of more than 950 employers that support apprenticeships.

The evening was compered by apprentices Marie Moustache and Keri Ventre, who are both apprentices at Exeter City Council.

Karime Hassan, Exeter City Council Chief Executive and Growth Director, said: “In a successful economy like Exeter it makes sense to invest in growing talent. The apprenticeship programme at Exeter College brings so much more as it rewards and nurtures talent. Through the infectious enthusiasm of apprentices and employer satisfaction, it is building a lasting legacy.”

Guest speaker Dave Pearce, TV Producer and extreme explorer, spoke at the event. His life experiences provided inspirational words with his advice on ‘cheerfulness in adversity’, making the most of all opportunities in life and ‘determination and tenacity’.

Susanna Lawson, Co-Founder of OneFile the UK’s leading learning platform, used by all Exeter College apprentices attended the awards. Susanna has grown Onefile from a start-up of two people in her spare bedroom in Manchester to a multi-million pound company with 85+ employees. She spoke of the invaluable experience that apprenticeships offer students who are starting off on their career paths.

All of the guests were given table gifts of handmade fudge by Level 2 college apprentices.

The Apprenticeship winners were:

  • Shannalee Rea, from Plymouth, Brittany Ferries – Accountancy Apprentice of the Year
  • Maddy Geen, from Holsworthy, The University of Exeter – Business Administration Apprentice of the Year
  • Grace Northam, from Exeter, Brandon House Nursing Home – Care Apprentice of the Year
  • Jordan Picot, from Newton Abbot, Green Engineering – Construction Apprentice of the Year
  • Alicia Harrington, from Sidmouth, Leads To You – Digital Marketing & IT Apprentice of the Year
  • Lucy Warren, from Seaton, Pink Hippo Day Nursery – Education Apprentice of the Year
  • Tess Brock, from Honiton, the Met Office – Engineering Apprentice of the Year
  • Hannah Wightman, from Ottery St Mary, Saks – Hairdressing Apprentice of the Year
  • Ethan MacDonald, from Aylesbeare, Salutation – Hospitality Apprentice of the Year
  • Peter Gomes, from Teignmouth, DT Garage – Motor Vehicle Apprentice of the Year
  • Jamie Hatton, from Okehampton, Exeter College Central Fitness – Sports and Leisure Apprentice of the Year
  • Niccolas Marshall, from Newton Abbot, Arconic – Overall Apprentice of the Year

The Employer award winners were:

  • Small Business of the Year – Horizon Childcare
  • Levy Business of the Year – MB Aerospace / Centrax
  • New Employer of the Year – swcomms

The special recognition award winners were:

  • Apprenticeship Innovation – Jonathan Cresswell, The University of Exeter
  • Contribution to Apprenticeships – Janet Francis, GWR