Learning and Skills Council announces winners of National

1 month ago 11th Jul 14:35

The Learning and Skills Council (LSC) today announces the winners of the national Apprenticeship Awards 2008. Now in their fifth year, the Awards are designed to recognise the hard work and commitment of people who are currently undertaking, or who have recently completed, an Apprenticeship, as well as the employers who are successfully using Apprenticeships to improve business performance.

For the first time since the celebration began, 75 per cent of the apprentice winners are women, as Claire Harrison, Rachael Hoyle and Victoria Snook are recognised, along with Luke Power, as winners in their respective categories this year.

Today's results are all the more surprising as two of the young women who have received the awards also work in sectors that are traditionally dominated by men: aerospace engineering and pharmaceuticals.

The four apprentice award categories seek to celebrate apprentices' commitment to developing their skills and experience through Apprenticeships. Apprentices were judged on criteria that include their commitment to training, the range and diversity of their experience in their chosen field, their achievements within the workplace and demonstration of the way Apprenticeships have benefited their lives.

This year's Apprenticeship Awards attracted a record number of entries, with almost 1,400 individuals and companies all over England vying to be named Apprentice or Employer of the Year at tonight's ceremony. Representatives from the various employers joined the rest of the finalists at the Royal Horticultural Hall in Central London, where TV star Amanda Holden presented the Awards (Thursday 10 July).

Amanda Holden says: "I'm so happy to have been involved in this year's national Apprenticeship Awards. I believe that Apprenticeships can help to unlock England's talent and, having judged various people's 'talent' for a while now, I can say I'm truly honoured to have been part of this particular ceremony.

"On a personal level, I'm also extremely proud to see three young, independent women doing so well in their respective fields; they really have shown that it's not always a man's world out there! I just hope that everyone sees tonight's winners as shining examples of how young people can have a positive influence on this country."

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