Greater Manchester’s rising stars were celebrated in style during Hopwood Hall College’s first ever Apprenticeships Awards.
The inaugural ceremony saw apprentices, employers and VIPs all gather under one roof to celebrate up-and-coming talent from across the county and beyond.
Held at the Norton Grange Hotel and Spa in Castleton, the event was buzzing with energy from the word go as a series of gongs were dished out to the shortlisted finalists.
The big prize of the evening – the prestigious ‘Apprentice of the Year’ award – went to Cartime’s Julia Zajaczkowska.
The 18-year-old was nominated for ‘never shying away from a challenge’ during her Level 3 Motor Vehicle Service and Maintenance Apprenticeship.
In addition, a number of local and regional employers were praised for playing a vital part in nurturing talent and skills alongside Hopwood Hall.
‘SME of the Year’ went to IACS Training and Education, with Cara Brickwork being named highly commended.
R&B Switchgear won ‘Large Business of the Year’, with Danish Crown being announced as highly commended in the category.
Meanwhile, the ‘Bespoke Collaboration of the Year’ award went to Woodall Nicholson.
The Bolton-based company, which is part of Mellor, recruited their Hopwood apprentices ahead of key projects such as the manufacturing of buses for Greater Manchester’s franchised Bee Network.
Julia Heap, Principal and CEO of Hopwood Hall College and University Centre, said: “Our Apprenticeships Awards celebrated the positive impact that occurs when there is such synergy between education and industry.
“Our mission is to drive growth and change lives – and apprenticeship training is such a big part of that mission.
“We’re proud to be at the heart of Greater Manchester’s ‘North East Growth Corridor’, which we’re fuelling with talent and supporting growth initiatives such as Atom Valley.
“I wanted to extend another huge congratulations to all the amazing employers and apprentices that were shortlisted for awards.
“They are each a force for good and a brilliant example of just why apprenticeships continue to be a fantastic training route for people of all ages.”
The Apprenticeships Awards were hosted by Business Cloud executive editor Chris Maguire and were attended by a number of special guests, including Deputy Mayor of Rochdale, Councillor Janet Emsley.
In addition to celebrating the success of apprenticeships, the event also raised £525.50 for Rochdale and District Mind.
All in all, Hopwood offers more than 30 apprenticeship pathways that align with both local and national skills priorities – ranging from Vehicle Converters to Veterinary Nurses.
The college will soon be welcoming visitors to learn more about pathways like these during its upcoming Apprenticeships Open Event held at its Middleton Campus.
This open evening will take place from 5:30pm – 7:30pm on Wednesday 12 February to coincide with National Apprenticeship Week.
It promises to be a fantastic opportunity for people to explore the exciting world of apprenticeships, as well as hear from a number of employers who will be talking about the apprenticeship experience and their recruitment processes.
For more information and to register to attend the Apprenticeships Open Event, please visit hopwood.ac.uk.