Top apprenticeship talent celebrate big success at major county awards led by OxLEP

Apprentices businesseseducation providers and champions of apprenticeships – from right across the county – came together this evening (18 May) for the Oxfordshire Apprenticeship Awards 2023one of the leading annual business celebration events in the region.

The spectacular awards – now in its seventh year and organised by OxLEP Skills – saw over 170 people come together at Williams F1 Conference Centre in Grove to celebrate all things apprenticeships. Many more joined the event via a live-stream hosted on OxLEP’s website.

Supported by a business-led committee the Oxfordshire Apprenticeship Awards aims to champion work-based learning excellence across a breadth of sectors. This yearthe event saw winners announced from 12 categories all of which it’s hoped will act as a major inspiration to businesses encouraging them to explore what an apprentice could bring to their respective companies.

The headline sponsor for this year’s awards was JDE Banbury – other awards sponsors and supporters included; Darke & Taylor The Fiona Wheeler Charitable Foundation High Spec Composites Oxford University Development Ridge and Partners LLP South East Apprenticeship Ambassador Network Williams Racing and Popham Hairdressing.

The awards were hosted by Simon Newton – Joint Managing Director of Darke & Taylor – and Sarah Jaycock Executive Director of High Spec Composites.

Below is a full list of this year’s winners and highly-commended finalists: 

Intermediate Apprentice of the Year:

Sponsored by Milestone Infrastructure  

Winner:

• Joshua Read-Strahan – Apprentice Sports Coach Ignite Sport UK

Highly-commended:

• Cameron Bastable – Healthcare Support Worker Apprentice Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
• Timmy Blake – Palace Maintenance Assistant Blenheim Palace

Advanced Apprentice of the Year:

Sponsored by Abbott Diabetes Care

Winner:

• Cerys Massey – Clinical Services Administrator Woodstock Surgery

Highly-commended:

• Emilia Callaghan – Events and Hospitality Apprentice Blenheim Palace
• Kelly Huggard – HR Coordinator Blenheim Palace

Higher / Degree Apprentice of the Year:

Sponsored by Oxford Professional Education

Winner:

• Chez Bousfield – CAHMS Service Improvement Coordinator  Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust

Highly-commended:

• Wendy Matshazi – Learning and Development Lead Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust
• Elliot O’Brien – Architectural Apprentice Jessop and Cook Architects

Special Recognition Award:

Sponsored by Hill

Winner:

• Tiffany Hickman – Finance Apprentice Blenheim Palace

Highly-commended:

• Jamie Kavanagh – Insight Analyst Oxfordshire County Council
• Katie Sweet – Apprentice Technician JDE Banbury

Rising Star Award:

Sponsored by Blenheim and Pye Homes

Winner:

• Lucy Parsons – Apprentice Finance and Accounting Technician University of Oxford

Highly-commended:

• Fi Thomas – Commercial Procurement Apprentice Oxford City Council
• Jasmine Williams – Spa Apprentice Minster Mill Andrew Brownsword Hotel Group

Shining Star Award:

Sponsored by IST INTECH

Winner: 

• Danielle Hoare – HR & Communications Officer Nuffield Department of Women’s & Reproductive Health University of Oxford

Highly-commended:

• Jessica Aguirre – Trainee Claims and Inquests Officer Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
• Nairne Barker – Business Development Executive Abingdon & Witney College

Apprenticeship Ambassador Award:

Sponsored by Activate Apprenticeships

Winner:

• Grace Robinson – Apprentice Mechatronic Technician JDE Banbury

Highly-commended:

• Grace Dawson – EPA Coordinator Explosive Learning Solutions
• Jamie Kavanagh – Insight AnalystOxfordshire County Council

Apprenticeship Employer of the Year (Less Than 250 Employees):

Sponsored by Assure UK

Winner:

• Oxfordshire Youth

Highly-commended:

• FMB Oxford
• Williams Jet Tenders

Apprenticeship Employer of the Year (250 or More Employees):

Sponsored by Owen Mumford

Winner:

• Oxfordshire County Council

Highly-commended:

• Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust
• Taylor & Francis

Inspiring the Future Employer of the Year:

Sponsored by Oxford North

Winner:

• Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons

Highly-commended:

• Explosive Learning Solutions
• Hill Group

Careers Champion Award:

Sponsored by The Engineering Trust

Winner:

• Claire Christiansen – Careers Lead Larkmead School

Highly-commended:

• Andrew Hemming – Assistant Head Teacher Chilworth House Upper School
• Jackie Mustoe – Careers Lead and Exams Manager Carterton Community College

Training Provider Individual Award:

Sponsored by Oxfordshire Advanced Skills

Winner:

• Sonia King – Pre-apprentice Training Co-ordinator ACE Training

Highly-commended:

• Emma Corless – Learning and Development Manager Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust
• Iwona Elliott – Learning and Development LeadOxford Health NHS Foundation Trust

Overall Apprentice of the Year for 2023:

• Joshua Read-Strahan – Apprentice Sports Coach Ignite Sport UK

Find out more on the awards via the below link as well as details on OxLEP Skills’ Social Contract programme which works with large businessessubject to the apprenticeship levy – a 0.5% compulsory charge for companies who have an annual pay bill of more than £3 million – encouraging them to pledge their unused levy spendwhich can subsequently be used to support small businesses in Oxfordshire to create their own apprenticeship openings.

Find out more on the Oxfordshire Apprenticeship Awards 2023

Find out more on the Social Contract proramme