Entries now open for National Apprenticeship Awards 2020

11th September 2020

The National Apprenticeship Awards 2020 are now open for entries, and businesses and individuals have until 25th September to apply.

Back for their 17th year, the National Apprenticeship Awards are a fantastic opportunity to showcase the apprentices and employers who have gone above and beyond over the past 12 months. 

Employers, apprentices and apprenticeship champions from all sectors are encouraged to apply for the following categories:

Apprentice of the Year

To enter the Apprentice of the Year category you must either be currently undertaking the level of qualification applicable to your chosen category or have completed that level within the last 12 months (since 1 September 2019).

The judges are looking for apprentices who can demonstrate their achievements, contribution and the impact they have made within the organisation they work.

Rising Star of the Year

The Rising Star Award seeks to recognise apprentices that have made impressive progress in their career to date and have the potential to go even further.

Apprentices should be nominated for this award by their employer. An employer may nominate more than one apprentice for the Rising Star Award, but a separate application must be completed for each apprentice.

To be eligible for the Rising Star Award, the apprentice being nominated must either:

• Be currently undertaking an apprenticeship at any level

• Have completed their apprenticeship within the last 24 months (since 1 September 2018)

Employer of the Year

The Employer of the Year category is open to employers from all sectors and celebrates employers who can showcase their commitment, contribution and the success that apprenticeships have brought to their organisation.

There are three employer categories to acknowledge organisations of different sizes:

• SME Employer of the Year: 1 – 249 employees

• Large Employer of the Year: 250 – 4,999 employees

• Macro Employer of the Year: 5,000+ employees

Proactive employers who can demonstrate how they have delivered an exemplary apprenticeship programme that has benefited their organisation and individual apprentices are encouraged to apply.

Apprenticeship Champion of the Year

This award is for individuals who champion apprenticeships with enthusiasm.

The award is open to all individuals. The initial nomination will need to come from a colleague or contact who recognises their ‘champion’ credentials. The nominator will be required to write a short reference, explaining why they think the individual is an ‘Apprenticeship Champion’.

Once the nomination has been submitted the nominee will receive an email to alert them, and they will then complete the application form.

The judges are looking for strong advocates of apprenticeships who showcase how they proactively go beyond their normal duties to promote apprenticeships as an excellent career route and a way to boost business success.

Head of Skills at Business West Nicky Williams, who is also Vice Chair of the South West Apprenticeship Ambassador Network, comments:

“The National Apprenticeships Awards is the celebration of our outstanding employers and apprentices. And during the current challenges of COVID it is even more important to celebrate the successes of our apprentices and businesses across the region.

“The event helps raise awareness of the breadth and depth of apprenticeships on offer and how they benefit employers and apprentices alike.

“For employers and apprentices, themselves, the awards are a fantastic opportunity to enhance employer and personal brand, helping candidates to stand out in a competitive jobs market.

“I know from experience that we have so many amazing apprentices and employers in this region and encourage them all to enter!”

In 2020 the National Apprenticeships Awards will take place online for the very first time, for more information and to apply visit: https://appawards.co.uk/

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