Apprentices and employers have been honoured at a special Nelson and Colne College awards ceremony.
The annual event, which is held to celebrate apprenticeships and the positive impact they have on individuals, businesses and the wider economy, was hosted in Farringtons Restaurant and Bistro, located within NCC.
The evening included a drinks reception, a two course meal and an awards presentation, and saw Richard Mellor, from Cummins Mellor Recruitment, and his apprentice Anya Ryan, as guest speakers.
Principal of NCC Amanda Melton said: “It was a pleasure to see nearly 30 apprentices and local employers recognised at our annual Apprenticeship Awards Ceremony.
“The evening was an excellent chance to showcase the key achievements of individual apprentices who have gone above and beyond on their placement, and to recognise employers that have invested in apprenticeships and nurtured new talent. Hiring apprentices helps businesses to develop their own motivated, skilled and qualified workforce, and provides hard-working young people with excellent career prospects and an ideal route into their chosen industry.
“A huge thank you must also go to our award-winning Catering and Hospitality team and young chefs, who, as always, demonstrated their culinary talents and sheer professionalism on the night.”
Ryan McDowall, who picked up the Business Administration Apprentice of the Year award, added: “The evening was really good. Everyone was dressed really smartly, and the food was great as well. Doing an apprenticeship was perfect for me, as I got to earn and learn at the same time – getting a qualification while in the workplace.”
Ninety per cent of apprenticeships stay in employment after finishing their apprenticeship. For more information about becoming an apprentice or taking on apprentices within your company contact 01282 440319 or visit www.nelson.ac.uk/apprenticeships
More pictures from the night can be found on the Nelson and Colne College Sixth Form Facebook page.
Award winners were:
Accounting Apprentice of the Year: Ryan Swift, Pendle Leisure Trust; Beauty Therapy Apprentice of the Year: Megan Sharman, The Sanctuary, and Sarah Midgley, Salon Twenty Seven; Business Administration Apprentice of the Year: Ryan McDowall, Marsden Building Society; Catering Apprentice of the Year: Mark Fenwick, Burnley Campus – Barden Lane, and Lewis Bowling, The Fenwick; Childcare Apprentice of the Year: Nicole Howarth, Giant Leap Nursery; Customer Service Apprentice of the Year: Gerson Da Silva, Liberata; Engineering Apprentice of the Year: Cameron Monk, Hope Technology; Hairdressing Apprentice of the Year: Georgina Mills, Antony and Patricia Hair Salon; Barbering Apprentice of the Year: Heidi Horsfall, Jay Laurie’s; Health and Social Care Apprentice of the Year: Natalie Hesmondalgh, Bank Hall Care Home; Marketing and Social Media Apprentice of the Year: Annie Johnson, Universal Smartcards; Teaching Assistant Apprentice of the Year: Amnah Iqbal, West Craven High School; Teaching Assistant Apprentice of the Year: Amy Hawkesford, Nelson and Colne College; Commitment to Apprenticeships: Hycrome (Europe) Ltd, Pendle Borough Council, Provincial Engineering (Lancashire) Ltd and T&R Precision Engineering; Commitment to Training: NHS, NR Precision Engineering, and Marsden Building Society; Small Business of the Year: Unique Clean and Kellie Hughes; Medium Business of the Year: West Craven High School; Large Business of the Year: Coveris and East Lancashire Healthcare Trust.
