Apprentices celebrated at inaugural awards
Our inspirational and committed apprentices have been celebrated at Gateshead Council's first annual Apprenticeship Awards.
Council colleagues were invited to nominate an apprentice for an award from twelve categories and also to nominate a mentor who they felt had made their learning at Gateshead Council a great experience. The Council were delighted to receive over 75 nominations.
Judges identified a number of nominees from each category whose contribution, efforts and hard work stood out from others and they, along with their line managers, were invited to attend a recognition event at The Fed in Gateshead on Friday 1 July.
Winners were announced in twelve categories as well as the overall Gateshead Council Apprentice of the Year.
Since the introduction of the Apprenticeship Levy, more learners than ever are choosing an apprenticeship programme as a successful learning route where they can earn while they learn. As well as developing the careers of new employees in the Council and in schools, existing colleagues can now continue their professional development through an apprenticeship, helping us build our workforce of the future.
Councillor Gary Haley, Gateshead Council's Cabinet Member for Children and Young People, said: "Gateshead Council has always been a staunch advocate of apprenticeship learning programmes, whether this is via the traditional employed apprenticeship programmes and or higher-level apprenticeship qualifications, open to existing colleagues.
"It is a great way to develop both as an individual and with the Council and our schools. It enables learners to get hands on training and a chance to put the skills learnt into practice and gain a recognised qualification.
"The last two years, during the pandemic, have been exceptionally challenging, which makes the achievements of our apprentices even more impressive. Many have continued to juggle demanding jobs and deliver exceptional customer service during unprecedented times, while fulfilling their apprenticeship programme."
Gateshead Council's Chief Executive, Sheena Ramsey, said: "Through these awards we have seen some fantastic achievements and success stories and our apprentices; and their mentors are truly a credit to Gateshead, it's fantastic that we're able to bring everyone together to recognise their hard work. It's the Council's ambition to continue to fly the apprenticeship flag for many years to come and continue to build on the success of the programmes we offer."
Max Ferriday, winner of the Drew Docherty Housing, Environment and Healthy Communities Apprentices of the Year award and overall Gateshead Council Apprentice of the Year said: "To win two awards today means a lot to me, even to be nominated in the first place then to actually win one from my selected group and then to win the overall Apprentice of the Year, it means so much to me. I'm over the moon, I couldn't be happier. I'd like to thank my mentors for pushing me so hard and nominating me for the award."
"For anyone else looking to go into an apprenticeship in Gateshead I would advise them to just do it, it's one of the best things you could possibly do to further your career, get paid, go to college, it's a whole experience and I believe it's the best way to go about things."
Winners
- Children's Social Care and Lifelong Learning - Lynne Kilford
- Corporate Services and Governance - Sonya McCool
- Economy, Innovation and Growth - Kerry Walker
- The Drew Docherty Housing, Environment and Healthy Communities - sponsored by Unite - Max Ferriday
- Integrated Adults and Social Care Services - sponsored by UNISON - Jack Jago
- Public Health and Wellbeing - John Wright
- Resources and Digital - Olivia Simpson
- Primary School - sponsored by UNISON - Georgia Latto
- Intermediate / Advanced - sponsored by GMB - Jane Hay
- Higher / Degree - Fern Young
- Rising Star - sponsored by GMB - Emily Jamieson and Darren White
- Mentor - sponsored by UNITE - Corraib Mac Caba and Gavin Riley
- Gateshead Council Apprentice of the Year - Max Ferriday
Our inspirational and committed apprentices have been celebrated at Gateshead Council's first annual Apprenticeship Awards.
Council colleagues were invited to nominate an apprentice for an award from twelve categories and also to nominate a mentor who they felt had made their learning at Gateshead Council a great experience. The Council were delighted to receive over 75 nominations.
Judges identified a number of nominees from each category whose contribution, efforts and hard work stood out from others and they, along with their line managers, were invited to attend a recognition event at The Fed in Gateshead on Friday 1 July.
Winners were announced in twelve categories as well as the overall Gateshead Council Apprentice of the Year.
Since the introduction of the Apprenticeship Levy, more learners than ever are choosing an apprenticeship programme as a successful learning route where they can earn while they learn. As well as developing the careers of new employees in the Council and in schools, existing colleagues can now continue their professional development through an apprenticeship, helping us build our workforce of the future.
Councillor Gary Haley, Gateshead Council's Cabinet Member for Children and Young People, said: "Gateshead Council has always been a staunch advocate of apprenticeship learning programmes, whether this is via the traditional employed apprenticeship programmes and or higher-level apprenticeship qualifications, open to existing colleagues.
"It is a great way to develop both as an individual and with the Council and our schools. It enables learners to get hands on training and a chance to put the skills learnt into practice and gain a recognised qualification.
"The last two years, during the pandemic, have been exceptionally challenging, which makes the achievements of our apprentices even more impressive. Many have continued to juggle demanding jobs and deliver exceptional customer service during unprecedented times, while fulfilling their apprenticeship programme."
Gateshead Council's Chief Executive, Sheena Ramsey, said: "Through these awards we have seen some fantastic achievements and success stories and our apprentices; and their mentors are truly a credit to Gateshead, it's fantastic that we're able to bring everyone together to recognise their hard work. It's the Council's ambition to continue to fly the apprenticeship flag for many years to come and continue to build on the success of the programmes we offer."
Max Ferriday, winner of the Drew Docherty Housing, Environment and Healthy Communities Apprentices of the Year award and overall Gateshead Council Apprentice of the Year said: "To win two awards today means a lot to me, even to be nominated in the first place then to actually win one from my selected group and then to win the overall Apprentice of the Year, it means so much to me. I'm over the moon, I couldn't be happier. I'd like to thank my mentors for pushing me so hard and nominating me for the award."
"For anyone else looking to go into an apprenticeship in Gateshead I would advise them to just do it, it's one of the best things you could possibly do to further your career, get paid, go to college, it's a whole experience and I believe it's the best way to go about things."
Winners
- Children's Social Care and Lifelong Learning - Lynne Kilford
- Corporate Services and Governance - Sonya McCool
- Economy, Innovation and Growth - Kerry Walker
- The Drew Docherty Housing, Environment and Healthy Communities - sponsored by Unite - Max Ferriday
- Integrated Adults and Social Care Services - sponsored by UNISON - Jack Jago
- Public Health and Wellbeing - John Wright
- Resources and Digital - Olivia Simpson
- Primary School - sponsored by UNISON - Georgia Latto
- Intermediate / Advanced - sponsored by GMB - Jane Hay
- Higher / Degree - Fern Young
- Rising Star - sponsored by GMB - Emily Jamieson and Darren White
- Mentor - sponsored by UNITE - Corraib Mac Caba and Gavin Riley
- Gateshead Council Apprentice of the Year - Max Ferriday
