I had the pleasure of attending the 2023 UK Apprenticeship Awards on 29th November alongside members of the European Apprenticeships team. The event marked 20 years of the awards, and the first time with an Amazon finalist, Evelina, who was highly commended as the 'UK Rising Star of the Year', after winning the Regional Awards for the same category. Evelina started as a temporary member of staff in an Amazon Fulfillment Cente in Tilbury, England, and is now a Quality Assurance Manager after completing two apprenticeship schemes (she is now on her third, in which she'll obtain a Master’s degree).
The awards ceremony was hosted by Steph McGovern, journalist, former BBC Breakfast business correspondent, and now host of her own eponymous Channel 4 show. Steph is actually a former engineering apprentice herself and a big supporter of Women in Science, Technology, and Engineering (STEM). She grew up in Middlesbrough and started her working life as a mechanical engineering apprentice at Black & Decker, during which she won the title of Young Engineer for Britain. Steph is also a mentor for young people in Teeside and patron of a charity supporting disadvantaged children. Her peculiar fact is that she is a former champion Irish dancer!
Amazon was in great company at the events, surrounded by other large (and small) employers such as the NHS, Lloyds Bank, BAE Systems, Specsavers, and the Armed Forces. As one of the event sponsors, Amazon’s UK VP, John Boumphrey, presented the award for Intermediate Apprentice of the Year (won by a young woman undertaking a carpentry apprenticeship in the South West). The best part of the evening for me (apart from the delicious meal!) was meeting so many diverse and inspiring people, not least Steph herself (check out her glamorous suit in the photo above – I need to get myself one!).