A stellar line-up of finalists has been revealed for the first ever Shropshire Telford & Wrekin Apprenticeship Awards.
The event has been created to celebrate the brightest apprentices in the area, as well as recognising employers for their support of apprenticeships.
McPhillips of Telford, WR Partners of Shrewsbury, and Dyke Yaxley of Shrewsbury are shortlisted in the large employer category, while the medium sized employer finalists are Fabweld from Telford, Pave Aways of Knockin, and Shingler Group from Myddle.
In the small employer category, the three finalists are Ascendancy of Newport, Connexis from Telford, and Start Tech of Shrewsbury.
Finalists in the individual categories come from all corners of the county. Categories include Construction, Health & Social Care, Engineering & Manufacturing, IT & Digital Industries, Early Years and Education, Creative & Media, and Business Legal & Finance.
Tickets are now on sale for the awards night, which includes a drinks reception, three-course meal and live musical entertainment. It will be held at the Mercure Telford Centre Hotel on the evening of October 3. For all the details, see https://stwaa.co.uk/
An overall star apprentice for both the Shropshire and Telford & Wrekin areas will also be crowned on the night.
The competition is backed by some of the county’s biggest and best names, led by headline sponsors Aico of Oswestry and Telford College. It has been organised by award-winning Shropshire events company Yarrington, in partnership with Shropshire Business Live TV who will be filming and streaming the awards presentations.
Carl Jones, producer and presenter at SBLTV, said: “The quality and volume of entries surpassed all expectations, and the panel of judges said they faced a very difficult task narrowing down each category to three finalists and choosing their winners.”
Mark Allsop, managing director of Yarrington, added: “We’re delighted with the response to the awards in its first year, and are looking forward to a fantastic awards evening. It’s going to be a real celebration of the brightest and best apprentices in the county, and the businesses which go the extra mile to support the next generation of skilled staff.”
Pictured: Organisers, sponsors and supporters at the shortlisting day
The finalists, their employers, and training providers
MANUFACTURING AND ENGINEERING
Tom Farquharson Iconsys Shrewsbury Colleges Group
Abigail Jones i2r Packaging Telford College
Mitchell Taylor Elite Precast Concrete Telford College
IT AND DIGITAL
Mary Harris Ascendancy Aston University
Christa Bridges PebblePad University of Wolverhampton
Ryan Ward Start Tech Intequal
HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE
Francesca Farruggio SaTH Telford College
Rachel Palin SaTH University of Chester
Chris Shelson Shropshire Council University of Chester
CONSTRUCTION
Harry Barrett SJ Roberts Shrewsbury Colleges Group
Luke Courtnell McPhillips Telford College
Joe Shingler Shingler Group Shrewsbury Colleges Group
BUSINESS, LEGAL AND FINANCE
Kieran Jones Shropshire Council Lifetime Training
Marloe Nudds WR Partners Kaplan
Maisie Evans Berrys Harper Adams University
CREATIVE AND MEDIA
Jenny Evans RJAH hospital, Gobowen PR and Comms Association
Ella Shorthouse Buy-from.com Althaus
Rhea Draycott Shropshire Festivals Shrewsbury Colleges Group
EARLY YEARS AND EDUCATION
Tom Miles Castle House School Telford College
Kiran Kaur Trench Tots Telford College
Zoe Gray Southall School Telford College
SMALL EMPLOYER
Connexis Telford
Ascendancy Newport
Start Tech Shrewsbury
MEDIUM EMPLOYER
Fabweld Steel Products Telford
Pave Aways Knockin
Shingler Group Myddle
LARGE EMPLOYER
McPhillips Telford
WR Partners Shrewsbury
Dyke Yaxley Shrewsbury
