North East stars honoured in National Apprenticeship Awards regional heat

A host of firms and individuals will fly the flag for the region at a respected awards ceremony.

Winners from the 2019 National Apprenticeship Awards’ North East heat, held at NewcastleGateshead Hilton earlier this month, will pit themselves against the country’s best in November.

They will include Middlesbrough-based electrical installer and mechanical system fabricator Intelect (UK) Limited, which picked up the SME Employer of the Year Award.

Heavy engineer Tees Components Limited, based in Skelton, east Cleveland, was highly commended in the same category.

The Large Employer of the Year title went to Home Group Limited, with County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service highly commended.

Sunderland car manufacturer Nissan picked up the Macro Employer of the Year honour, with Lookers plc highly commended by judges.

Home Group Limited was again successful in the Recruitment Excellence Award, where Nissan was highly commended.

 

 

In the individual categories, Julie Mills, of Northumberland Community Bank, was named Intermediate Apprentice of the Year, with John Dickeson, of Darlington’s HC One, highly commended.

Ben Lumsden, of Ibstock Brick Ltd, picked up the Advanced Apprentice honour, with Nissan’s Niall Bennison highly commended.

Elsewhere, Emma Beauchamp, of Washington and Newton Aycliffe-based car parts maker Gestamp, was named Higher or Degree Apprentice of the Year, with Nissan’s Emma Coulson highly commended.

In the Rising Star of the Year category, Gavin Malone, of Newcastle Building Society, came out on top. Highly commended was Hays Travel’s Emily Adams.

Gavin will now go into a public vote, which will help crown the UK’s overall winner.

Finally, the Apprenticeship Champion of the Year Award was given to Karen Marshall, of Accenture Technology Centre. Karen Hookham, of Northumbria NHS Foundation Trust, was highly commended.

Congratulating the region’s winners, Education Secretary Gavin Williamson said: “Apprenticeships change lives, improve businesses and support local communities, so it’s great to see such a diverse range of employers and apprentices being recognised for their great work.

“I wish them all the best of luck for the final award ceremony in November.”