College Award Winners Announced for National Apprenticeship Week 2016!

Apprentices from across the South Yorkshire region are celebrating after winning prestigious awards from Dearne Valley College for their achievements and successes.

Employers were asked to nominate their young recruits in the weeks running up to National Apprenticeship Week, and just five were chosen to take the titles. A winner was announced each day on the College’s social media channels and website, celebrating their individual stories and successes.

Joseph Shirtliffe, a Business Administration Apprentice at Aspire PC Limited, and Motor Vehicle Apprentice at the Rotherham Jag Centre, Joshua Armstrong, were the first to be announced, with their employers citing fantastic progression and dedication to the company and their training as the reason for their nominations, with Joseph securing a permanent role with his employer once he has completed his Apprenticeship, and Joshua displaying ‘outstanding performance’ and maturity.

Emma Birks of Rosehill Junior School was also amongst the winners, having achieved success during her Business Administration Apprenticeship and proving to be a ‘fantastic role model to the school’s children’,  whilst Glass Fabrication Apprentice, Matthew Clarke was nominated by his employers and is now being trained to become the company’s only Quality Control Operative.

The final winner of the week, Jack Hopkinson, who is a Specialist Support for Teaching and Learning in Schools Apprentice at Jump Primary School in Rotherham, was chosen as this year’s ‘Apprentice of the Year’, and received a visit from Dearne Valley College Principal, Martin Harrison, who selected this year’s winners, and delivered a surprise presentation for Jack during an assembly which included Jack’s family, colleagues and school pupils. Jack was nominated after demonstrating an eagerness to develop his own practice within the classroom, and a unique commitment to his work and organising after-school sports events for the students, with his employers adding that they are often asked ‘Who is Mr Hopkinson’ by parents, whose children have come home speaking so highly of the Apprentice.

Principal and Chief Executive of Dearne Valley College, Martin Harrison added:

“It has been fantastic visiting our winning Apprentices and hearing all of the extremely positive achievements they are making with their employers. I am certain that they all have a bright future as they are already demonstrating the significant value they bring to their employers whilst further developing their skills.  Apprenticeships are increasingly becoming young people’s first choices on the journey towards a successful career within their chosen industries, and I would urge anyone who is considering an Apprenticeship to contact the College’s Apprenticeship team to find out more about their options and discover our live vacancies that we are currently taking applications for.”

You can read all of the winners’ stories by visiting www.dearne-coll.ac.uk/apprenticeships. If you are considering your next steps, Dearne Valley College has a huge range of Apprenticeships on offer. To enquire further or to apply, contact the College on 01709 513355, at learn@dearne-coll.ac.uk, or visit the website for more information.