Stone Apprentice Recognised for National Apprentice Week

A Stone apprentice was one of 12 awarded for their outstanding contributions to business at this year’s Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent Apprenticeship Recognition Awards.

Nicole Bath, who is apprenticed at Woolcool, an innovative Stone business providing insulated packaging using sheep’s wool, was recognised at the awards as part of National Apprenticeship Week from 6 to 10 March. The awards gave apprentices, employers and learning providers a unique chance to celebrate their successes. The Awards were held at Stoke-on-Trent City Council’s Smithfield offices in Hanley on Thursday 9 March.

Other apprentices working in engineering, finance, hairdressing, business, technical crafts and education were amongst the winners. The awards, now in their 6th year, were organised by the Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP).

Presenting the awards, LEP board member Ken Stepney said: “It is great to see so many apprentices making such an outstanding contribution to the firms and organisations they work for. This is just the kind of can-do attitude we need to help our region prosper and I am sure these young people will go far in their future careers. Their achievements also illustrate the real commitment of employers and training providers to develop the skills and innovation we need for a thriving economy and flourishing communities.”

Ben Adams, cabinet Member for Learning and Skills at Staffordshire County council added his congratulations to the apprentices and their employers.

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Ben said: “As we celebrate National Apprenticeship Week it’s great to be recognising such huge local talent here in the county. Apprenticeships remain key to our plans to bring growth and prosperity to Staffordshire. They give employers the opportunity to grow their own talented and skilled workforce. And, for young people especially, the training in the workplace is a valuable first step into a career with good prospects for the future. “

Now in its tenth year, National Apprenticeship Week celebrates apprenticeships and the positive impact they have on individuals, businesses and the economy. Hundreds of events recognising the achievements of apprentices right across the country in the week of celebrations.

Apprenticeships continue to create more career opportunities for people in Staffordshire while giving businesses the chance to grow their own skilled workforce. More than 9,400 people in Staffordshire started an apprenticeship in 2016.

Full list of recognition award winners