Finalists announced for Oxfordshire Apprenticeship Awards 2026 – as prestigious awards celebrate a decade of highlighting apprenticeship success

The Oxfordshire Apprenticeship Awards began in 2017 and have since gone on to recognise the achievements of hundreds of the county’s apprenticeship stars.

Enterprise Oxfordshire have today (30 April) announced the finalists of this year’s much anticipated Oxfordshire Apprenticeship Awards, which are set to celebrate their 10th anniversary at an awards evening this May.

Taking place on 21 May at the University of Oxford’s new world-class centre for the arts and humanities – the recently-opened Schwarzman Centre for the Humanities – the awards are due to bring together the very best of the county’s apprentices, employers, training providers and skills champions.

With a total of 30 finalists – across 10 awards categories – eager to find out whether they will be crowned winners at the awards ceremony, the awards will also feature an overall ‘Apprentice of the Year’ winner, who will also be announced on the night.

The event – organised by Enterprise Oxfordshire, with the support of a business-led awards committee – is set to bring together those who are starting or developing their career as apprentices, companies committed to apprenticeship provision and those driving-forward such opportunities in the county.

The finalists reflect the breadth and strength of apprenticeships across the county, showcasing talent from a diverse range of industries, from engineering and advanced manufacturing to health and social care, digital and IT, business and professional services, education and training, hospitality, events, energy, logistics, the creative industries and the public sector.

From NHS trusts, local authorities and universities to global brands, heritage destinations and growing small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs), finalists span entry-level to master’s level apprenticeships.

Many of the sectors represented by finalists of this year’s awards have also been identified as key sectors within the county’s Local Skills Improvement Plan, highlighting the correlation between apprenticeships in those sectors and employment uptake in these industries, such as construction and many STEM sectors.

With many SMEs represented among the finalists, the awards will also showcase how apprenticeships can help small businesses grow and thrive through attracting new talent and developing the skills of current staff.

This year’s event will not only recognise individual apprentices, but also, those associated with apprenticeships, with award categories such as ‘Skills Champion’ and ‘Training Provider Individual’, highlighting those who go the extra mile to support and encourage apprentices.

The finalist announcement comes following the news earlier in the month of major changes to the national skills funding system, replacing the Apprenticeship Levy with a new Growth and Skills Levy – broadening how funds can be used.

Introduced in 2017, the Apprenticeship Levy required qualifying large employers to contribute 0.5% of their annual payroll – over £3 million – into a levy fund that could only be spent on approved apprenticeships.

Under the new system, UK employers who pay the levy will continue to contribute in the same way; however, they will have greater choice over how funds are used.

Alongside apprenticeships, levy funding can now be allocated to shorter and more flexible training opportunities – known as apprenticeship units – enabling businesses to upskill staff in priority areas such as digital, engineering and green technologies.

Enterprise Oxfordshire are set to deliver a comprehensive service for the county’s businesses, including unlocking funds and overseeing levy transfers, continuing on from the success of its’ ‘Apprenticeship Levy Support Scheme’.

Between the launch of the Apprenticeship Levy and March 2026, Enterprise Oxfordshire has delivered the following outcomes associated with levy spend and pledges:

£6.6 million in levy funding utilised through Enterprise Oxfordshire activity – investment that would otherwise have been lost to the county and returned to the Treasury.
551 apprenticeship and learner starts achieved across Oxfordshire businesses in a wide range of sectors.
276 employers supported by Enterprise Oxfordshire to understand and access the levy.

Helen Brind – Director of Business and Skills at Enterprise Oxfordshire – said: “This year the Oxfordshire Apprenticeship Awards celebrate 10 years of showcasing the wonderful apprenticeship talent here in the county. We’re proud to have played a role in giving these incredible individuals and opportunities the recognition they deserve in undertaking their chosen skills pathway and have seen some real success stories over the past decade.

“Apprenticeships provide young people, those wishing to upskill and ‘career changers’ with the opportunity to gain new skills and on-the-job experience, whilst earning a fair wage and obtaining an industry-specific qualification.

“The Oxfordshire Apprenticeship Awards are just one way in which Enterprise Oxfordshire support apprenticeships in the county – and as the new Growth and Skills Levy comes into play, we will continue to support our business community to unlock such vital opportunities.

“Any businesses looking to find out more about taking on an apprentice – or wishing to transfer their levy to retain funds in the county – should get in touch with us and we will support you.

“Apprenticeships offer unique skills opportunities – across all levels and sectors – and it’s important we continue to support such pathways. To all the finalists announced ahead of this year’s Oxfordshire Apprenticeship Awards, a big congratulations – your work does not go unnoticed!”

A full list of award finalists are as follows, selected by category sponsors:

Intermediate Apprentice of the Year Award

Finalists announced for Oxfordshire Apprenticeship Awards 2026 – as prestigious awards celebrate a decade of highlighting apprenticeship success

Apr 30, 2026