Forget the Oscars! Throw away the BAFTAs! The real glamorous night of fun, festivities & fundraising was the Apprenticeship Awards on Friday 10th March, proudly hosted by South & City College Birmingham.
The evening was a celebration of the college’s best Apprentices and Employers of the past year, starting with a 3-course wining & dining for our guests at the Burlington Hotel! A lively raffle and auction also helped raise an astonishing £2250 for the Birmingham Women’s and Children’s Hospital (BCH).
There were cheers and tears aplenty as winners took the stage. Between the Apprentices and BCH, Birmingham youth were the real winners of the night.
Kevin Herbert, Head of Events and Hospitality, said: “It’s really nice to see that the college is acknowledging apprenticeships, seeing how important they are to the community. These award-winning apprentices are dedicated and hard-working – keen to learn and keen to progress in life.”
The Awards were hosted by Tom Ross (South & City College InBusiness President). It featured guest speakers Andrea Jester (Consultant Plastic/Hand Surgeon at Birmingham Women’s and Children’s Hospital NHS Trust) and Nicholas Bailey (Leadership Training & Development Consultant with The Pacific Institute, Presence-based Coach & Presenter).
Rebecca Waterfield, Director of Business Development, said: “As always I am so proud to see our Apprentices and their companies being recognised for the achievements they’ve done. We have seen some amazing young people and amazing companies here tonight.”
Mike Hopkins, Principal of South & City College Birmingham, said: “The Awards evening was absolutely excellent, it really was. We had some incredible winners and the level of support we get from local business is amazing.
The event itself is on another level. When you actually see the calibre of the event, it compares to anything that goes on in the city. From my point of view it really is about the support we get from Birmingham, the students, the staff and importantly from the businesses. Well done all.”
So, who came away a winner? Here are our extraordinary students this year. Congratulations all!
Apprentice of the Year 2023 Winners
- Apprentice of the Year – Accountancy
Katie Murray | Award Sponsor: Staffordshire University
- Apprentice of the Year – Digital
Maya Cole | Award Sponsor: AIM Group - Placement Student of the Year
Gregg Clarke | Award Sponsor: Lady Ellis - Apprentice of the Year – Bus & Coach
Tom Lees | Award Sponsor: National Express - Apprentice of the Year – Construction Trades
Shemsi Bala | Award Sponsor: Aston University - Apprentice of the Year – Construction Higher
Caitlin Walsh | Award Sponsor: VGC - Apprentice of the Year – Business Administration
Liam Simpson | Award Sponsor: Longrow Capital - Construction Gateway Award
Liban Arnott | Award Sponsor: Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce - Apprentice of the Year – Motor Vehicle
Sean Chater | Award Sponsor: Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce - Apprentice of the Year – Childcare
Farrah Khan | Award Sponsor: Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce
Employer Awards 2023
- SME Employer of the Year
Consilium Technical Services | Award Sponsor: Protocol - Sir Doug Ellis OBE Special Recognition Award
Focus | Award Sponsor: Lady Ellis - Large Employer of the Year
South Doc Services – Birmingham & Solihull Training Hub | Award Sponsor: Balfour Beatty Vinci
A massive thank you to all our sponsors who make the awards happen every year. Aston University, VGC Group, Balfour Beatty Vinci, Longrow Capital, Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce, National Express, Staffordshire University, AIM Group, Protocol, and of course, our amazing partners at the MacDonald Burlington Hotel, Birmingham!
Ready to start your own Apprenticeship story? It’s a real job with a real wage, hands-on training and a nationally recognised qualification. Head to our Apprenticeships Hub to find out more.
