Apprentices and employers rewarded by Yeovil College

APPRENTICES and employers from across Somerset, Dorset and the South West have won awards at the third annual Yeovil College and North Dorset Technical College Apprenticeship Awards.

Twenty-five outstanding apprentices received prizes in a range of categories, highlighting the varied apprenticeships available across the college.

They included ICT, customer service, clinical healthcare, healthcare support services, engineering, hospitality and catering, hair and beauty, plumbing, carpentry, electrical installation and fire and security systems.  For the first time, awards were presented to motor vehicle apprentices, representing the new Yeovil College Motor Vehicle Training Centre, which opened earlier this year.

As part of the ceremony, feedback from employers and lecturers was read out as each apprentice winner went on stage, highlighting the pride felt by many about the students’ achievements.

PHOTO - TOP: Twenty-five outstanding apprentices received prizes, along with six top employers.

Pathways Health & Social Care Alliance employee Liz Tyrer, 21, of Yeovil, won the Advanced Apprenticeship in Healthcare Support Services award.

PHOTO - RIGHT: Certificates of Commendation were presented by guest speaker Simon Banks, group managing director of CSL DualCom Group, to Ellie Collins and Luke Brown.

Practice Manager Liz Jagelman said: “Liz’s commitment to her course and her work at Yeovil Health Centre has been truly commendable and receiving this award is a real credit to Liz and to Yeovil Health Centre.”

Due to the high calibre of nominees for the top awards this year, two additional prizes were presented.  These Certificates of Commendation went to Level 2 childcare apprentice Ellie Collins, 18, of Martock and Level 3 print apprentice Luke Brown, 20, of Sherborne.  Ellie worked for Farmer Jane’s, while Luke was employed by PrintaSleeve Ltd.

This year’s Intermediate (Level 2) Apprentice of the Year was Robin Jones, 20, of Bridport, who qualified in Performing Manufacturing Operations with Fat Leaf Ltd.  The Advanced (Level 3) Apprentice of the Year was Kimberley Dodge, 23, of Halstock, a business administration apprentice who worked for Yeovil College.

Six exceptional employers were also recognised for the key role they play in supporting and nurturing apprentices.  The Commitment to Apprenticeships Award went to Honeywell Aerospace, while the Employer of the Year (SME) award was presented to Intelligent Enterprise Products. Somerset Care received the Employer of the Year (Large) award, while the Best New Employer title went to Yarlington Housing Group.  The Commitment to Skills Development (Commercial) title was awarded to the Wessex Group, while Dorset County Council was highlighted for Commitment to Skills Development (Public Sector).

PHOTO - ABOVE RIGHT: This year's Apprentices of the Year, Kimberley Dodge and Robin Jones, with guest speaker Simon Banks, managing director of the CSL DualCom Group.

Yeovil College is grateful to AP Chant and Porter Dodson for sponsoring the Employer of the Year awards this year.

PHOTO - ABOVE: Six Employer of the Year awards were presented at the ceremony. Pictured (back from left) Mayor of Shaftesbury Cllr. Simon Pritchard, who collected an award for the Wessex Group, Honeywell Aerospace’s Julian Bisset, Mayor of Yeovil Manny Roper, Jake Snell of Yarlington Housing Group, Jag Ner of Intelligent Enterprise Products (IEP), Ed Nicholson of Intelligent Enterprise Products (IEP), Ashley Chant representing sponsor AP Chant, (front from left) Alison Rixon of Yarlington Housing Group and Judith Smith of Somerset Care.

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