Apprenticeship award winners are crowned

Star apprentices, mentors and employers have been celebrated at the 2026 Shropshire Telford & Wrekin Apprenticeship Awards.

A sell-out audience packed into the Mercure Telford Centre Hotel for the third annual competition last night, where a total of 13 champions were crowned.

Ellie Pjetri of Bridgnorth Aluminium was the biggest winner, picking up the overall Shropshire Apprentice of the Year title as well as the Business Legal & Finance apprentice trophy.

The audience was told: “Ellie has willingly taken on responsibilities beyond those typically expected of an apprentice, and staff say her initiative has played a key role in making improvements to HR processes, pre-employment screening and management information reports.

“She has quickly become a valued and trusted member of the HR team who also now delivers career talks to those looking to follow in her footsteps.”

The overall Telford & Wrekin Apprentice of the Year title went to Jake Burnett from Housing Plus Group, a health and social care apprentice described as ‘an absolute star who brings positivity to every shift’.

In the employer categories, refrigeration specialist Hoshizaki of Telford won the large employer of the year award, iconsys of Telford was medium sized employer champion, and the small employer prize went to Ruby Vehicle Services of Pennerley.

Other big winners included Amy Williams of Dawley Medical Practice, who became the inaugural recipient of the Rising Star award, while Housing Plus Group’s Ryan Donegani was named Mentor of the Year.

Shropshire Chamber of Commerce’s marketing manager Ella Preece won Creative and Media apprentice of the year, and the Construction and Civil Engineering award went to Michael Cardwell of CQS Solutions.

Luke Plimmer of Start Tech in Shrewsbury collected the IT and Digital Industries award, Henry Hunt from RBSL in Telford was Manufacturing apprentice of the year, and Sophie Woodward from Coverage Care won the Health and Social Care category.

The competition was once again organised and delivered by the independent media team behind Shropshire Business Live TV, which filmed the event for broadcast over the coming days.

This year’s event was backed by some of the county’s biggest and best names, led by headline sponsor Telford College, and the Marches Careers Hub.

Category sponsors included Keele University, In-Comm Training, J&PR, iconsys, ABP UK, Shrewsbury College, McPhillips, Housing Plus Group, Pave Aways, and Purple Frog Data.

Shropshire Business magazine editor Carl Jones, who hosted the awards, said: “The event just gets bigger and better every year, and is such an inspirational, uplifting, feelgood occasion.

“The quality and volume of entries once again surpassed expectations, and our panel of independent judges wanted to let finalists know how difficult their decisions had been.

“We’re incredibly grateful to all the sponsors who have supported us and made this fantastic event possible once again.”

THE 2026 WINNERS

Shropshire Apprentice of the Year: Ellie Pjetri, Bridgnorth Aluminium

Telford & Wrekin Apprentice of the Year: Jake Burnett, Housing Plus Group

Manufacturing & Engineering: Henry Hunt, RBSL

IT & Digital Industries: Luke Plimmer, Start Tech

Health & Social Care: Sophie Woodward, Coverage Care

Construction & Civil Engineering: Michael Cardwell, CQS Solutions

Business, Legal & Finance: Ellie Pjetri, Bridgnorth Aluminium

Creative & Media: Ella Preece, Shropshire Chamber of Commerce

Rising Star: Amy Williams, Dawley Medical Practice

Mentor of the Year: Ryan Donegani, Housing Plus Group

Small Employer: Ruby Vehicle Services, Pennerley

Medium Employer: iconsys, Telford

Large Employer: Hoshizaki Europe, Telford