Hard-working apprentices were championed by Bournemouth & Poole College at a special awards ceremony during National Apprenticeship Week.

Young people from a range of industries including manufacturing, catering, childcare, business and finance, were joined by their employers to celebrate their achievements at the Apprenticeships Unlocked awards event on 4 February, organised by the college, at AFC Bournemouth.

Oliver Dukes of CAT Marine picked up the overall Apprenticeships Unlocked 2020 Award in recognition of his progression on his AAT level 3 accountancy apprenticeship. He has recently been appointed as the chair of Dorset and Solent Young Apprentice Ambassador Network (YAAN) following his work to promote apprenticeships at workshops and careers events for school students.

“It feels amazing to win the Apprenticeship Unlocked 2020 award,” saod Oliver. “It’s great to be acknowledged for what I’ve done so far and hopefully we’ll do some even better things in the future to make apprenticeships the number one aim of people’s education.”

The full list of award-winning apprentices at Apprenticeships Unlocked were:

• Engineering Apprentice of the Year – Ella Nulty of AIM
• Construction Apprentice of the Year – Aston Gooding of CG Fry & Son
• Digital and Software Apprentice of the Year – Kirsten James of Viral Talent
• Higher Level Apprentice of the Year – Morgan Harris of Curtiss Wright
• Hair and Beauty Apprentice of the Year – Freya Kimber of House of Hair
• Business & Finance Apprentice of the Year – James Staton of Ankers and Rowling
• Care Apprentice of the Year – Luke Leech of Bears Hideaway Day Nursery
• Catering and Hospitality Apprentice of the year – James Gulliver of Signature Catering
• Employer of the Year – A&G Bricklaying

Bournemouth & Poole College’s commercial director, Matt Butcher, said, “We are proud of all of our apprentices at the College and are keen to herald the young people who go the extra mile to show their commitment to their future career through an apprenticeship. Our apprentices act as ambassadors out in the community as they work in different industries across Dorset and Hampshire, using the skills and knowledge they have learned at the College to support the future generation of the workforce.”