West Yorkshire Apprenticeship Awards 2026: Here are the finalists in all the categories at this year's celebration event

The awards, with YPO as headline partner, will celebrate the outstanding individuals, training providers and businesses shaping the region’s thriving apprenticeship community.

It features 14 categories, recognising both the achievements of apprentices and the vital role played by employers and training providers in developing future talent.

The campaign has once again attracted an incredible number of entries from across West Yorkshire. Each submission was carefully assessed by our panel of judges against strict criteria to determine this year’s finalists and, ultimately, the winners.

An awards spokesperson said: “The rigorous judging process reflects the exceptional calibre of applications received.

“We extend our sincere thanks to our judging panel. Their expertise and dedication have been invaluable in selecting a group of finalists that truly represent the passion, talent and ambition driving apprenticeships across the region.

“We are also delighted to be working with YPO as our headline partner.

“With over 50 years’ experience supplying products and services to schools, local authorities, emergency services and a wide range of public and private sector organisations, YPO is a 100 per cent publicly owned organisation that returns all profits to its public sector customers, helping them achieve better value for money.”

The following people were on the judging panel:

Emma Pearmaine – managing director, Ridley and Hall Legal Limited.

Andy Clarke – head of strategic partnerships, Ahead Partnership.

Hannah Brown – degree apprentice environmental practice, Mott MacDonald Ltd.

Elizabeth Mills – senior university teacher (SFHEA), School of Allied Health Professions, Pharmacy, Nursing and Midwifery.

Brandon Jones – head of external relations, First Bus.

Elizabeth said: “This has been an outstanding group of applications for the West Yorkshire Apprenticeship Awards.

“There has been a fantastic showcase of apprenticeships, apprentices and the positive impact they have on both businesses and individuals. It was inspiring to read about the experiences apprenticeships have provided.”

Andy said: “The standard this year was incredibly high, with many applications demonstrating how apprentices deliver real value to their employers early in their careers.

“It’s particularly encouraging to see so many apprentices supporting young people by sharing their experiences, helping guide those unsure about their next steps.

“There is clearly a huge amount of talent in West Yorkshire, and it was a pleasure to be a judge.”

Brandon said: “It was a true honour to serve on the judging panel for the West Yorkshire Apprenticeship Awards. The high standard of entries made selecting winners extremely challenging.

“The experience reinforced the vital importance of apprenticeships – including within the bus sector – as a cornerstone of developing the skilled workforce needed both now and in the future.”

The winners will be announced at the live awards ceremony on Thursday, May 14, at the Cedar Court Hotel, Bradford. Guests will arrive from 6.45pm for a welcome drink, kindly sponsored by Cedar Court Hotel, ahead of an evening of networking, dinner and award presentations.

The awards spokesperson added: “Join us as we applaud the remarkable achievements of West Yorkshire’s apprentices and the businesses championing them.”

For more details about the event, visit www.wyapprenticeshipawards.co.uk

For any further enquiries or interest in presenting one of the awards as an event sponsor, please contact event manager, Haroldine Lockwood, at [email protected]

Here are the finalists in each award category:

Intermediate Apprentice, Sponsored by Yorkshire Water

Alfie Rayne, Kirklees Council, Calderdale College.

Belinda Adams, The Valley Project, Calderdale College.

Catherine Watson, Hilton Leeds City, Lifetime Training.

Desmond Norris, Abraham Moon & Sons Ltd, Textile Centre of Excellence.

Faith Loynes, Bagnalls, Leeds College of Building.

Jamie Cawthra, Kirklees Council, Calderdale College.

Advanced Apprentice

Ariba Matloob, BDCU Credit Union, Bradford College.

Gabrielle Ellis, Floor Store, NowSkills.

Gurman Dev, WSP, Leeds College of Building.

Hudson Nunn, Enable Futures, T3 Training & Development.

Imogen Stoddart, DePuy Synthes (Johnson and Johnson MedTech), Appris.

Isabelle Styslo, ASG Produmax Ltd, Appris.

James Thomas, Jet2.com, Apprentify.

Joe Jamieson, Yorkshire Water, Bridgewater and Taunton.

Missy Mortimer, CO Manufacturing, JGA Group.

Samantha Peachy, Calderdale College.

Higher Apprentice

Adeoye Adedayo, CO Manufacturing, Nine Dots Development.

Bethany Logan, Jet2.com, BPP.

Dan Higgins, Yorkshire Water, Sheffield Hallam.

Emil Bindi, Sulzer Pumps Leeds, Appris.

Imogen Lidster, URM UK Limited, Remit Training.

Jack Peacock, Wates Group, Leeds College of Building.

William Sykes, East Riding Council, Leeds College of Building.

Degree Apprentice

Callum Hibbert, Yorkshire Water.

Jasmine Hibbert, ASG Produmax Ltd, Appris.

Joe Taylor, Jet2.com and Jet2holidays, Corndel.

Mason Cowley, NG Bailey (IT Services), Staffordshire University.

Maya Zamir, Mott Macdonald, Northumbria University.

Tom Butler, CML Civil Engineering, Leeds College of Building.

Construction Apprentice

Ashley Tordoff, Hutton and Cawood, Calderdale College.

George Davies, Crowther & Shaw Mechanical Services, Calderdale College.

Kier Dalton, Heart of Yorkshire Education Group.

Martin Barlow, South West Yorkshire Partnership NHS Teaching FT, Leeds College of Building.

Martyn Priestley, Bradford Council, Leeds College of Building.

Ryan Spinks, Equans, Leeds Beckett University.

Shelley Denton, NHS Property Services Ltd, Calderdale College.

Sonny McNamara, Cotterills Heating, Calderdale College.

Health and Public Service Apprentice

Claire Pickard, Timeout Children's Home, Calderdale College.

Jenny Dewhirst, Calderdale Council, Calderdale College.

Nicola Smith, William Henry Smith, Calderdale College.

Om Patel, Labcorp Drug Development, Manchester Metropolitan University.

Engineering/Manufacturing Apprentice, Sponsored by Kirklees College

Emma Wassell, Powell UK Ltd, Appris.

Farhan Miah, Arup, Leeds College of Building.

George Jackson, Craftsman Tools Ltd, Bradford College.

Isabelle Styslo, ASG Produmax Ltd, Appris.

Joe Rhodes, ITV, Leeds College of Building.

Micah Charles, Powell (UK) Ltd, Appris.

Owen Parsons, GS-Hyrdo, Heart of Yorkshire Education Group.

Sorrell Kidd, Carlsberg Britvic, Appris.

Professional Services Apprentice

Aiste Sarvaite, The Kakoty Practice, Heart of Yorkshire Education Group.

Connor McClements, Omega Security Systems Ltd, Calderdale College.

Ellie Whittingham, Jet2, LDN Apprenticeships.

Joe Taylor, Jet2.com and Jet2holidays, Corndel.

Mujahid Khan, WDS Chartered Accountants, Kirklees College.

Natalie Stephenson-Quayle, Ridley and Hall Solicitors, BPP.

Technology and Digital Apprentice

Caleb Graham, Systra, Leeds College of Building.

Ceridwen Grey, Jet2.com, BPP.

Chloe Collinson, Parker Hannifin, Kirklees College.

Matthew Widdop, Intelligency Group, Apprentify.

Sophie Steel, Jet2.com, Apprentify.

Mentor of the Year, Sponsored by FDM Group

Andy Holt, Bagnalls, Leeds College of Building.

Bobby Ramsay, Lumi and Lumiere, HOET.

Helen Rutherford, Exceed Training Company Ltd.

Michael Coates, Calderdale College.

Naomi Davis, DePuy Synthes (Johnson & Johnson MedTech), Appris.

Rachael Wood, First Intuition Yorkshire and Humber.

Scarlett Rayner, Calderdale College.

Apprentice Ambassador of the Year

Aisha Ayub, Skipton Building Society, Institute Of Internal Auditors.

Cerys Glynn, Jet2.com and Jet2holidays, The Apprenticeship Academy.

Lucie Gresham-Hill, Willmott Dixon Construction, UBE.

Micah Charles, Powell (UK) Ltd, Appris.

Oliva Buckley, First Intuition Yorkshire and Humber.

SME Employer of the Year

ASG Produmax Ltd, Appris.

BDCU Credit Union, Bradford College.

Curtis Furniture, North Lancashire Training College.

URM UK Limited.

Large Employer of the Year, Sponsored by YPO

Bagnalls, Leeds College of Building.

Cummins Components and Software (CCS).

Jet2.com and Jet2holidays.

NG Bailey.

Training Provider/Programme

Bradford College.

Calderdale College Future Leaders Programme.

Cliffe House Day Nurseries Ltd.

First Intuition Yorkshire and Humber.

Heart of Yorkshire Education Group - Apprenticeships Team.

Kirklees College - Food and Drink Engineering Maintenance Apprenticeship Programme.

Leeds College of Building (LCB).

Textile Centre of Excellence.