Congratulations to all 10 EKAA winners who represent this year’s workplace superstars of the future, and the employers and businesses supporting the development of the next generation of talent.
Here’s a little bit about our winners:
Tina Beckham
East Kent Apprenticeship Champion of the Year
What does it mean to you to win an EKAA?
“It means so much to me personally as I see myself as the overall driver, enthusiast and support for the audiology apprenticeship with EKHUFT but this award is also recognition for the hard working acute audiology team who all have their individual roles in supporting our apprentices on their audiology journey.”
What do you enjoy most about your apprenticeship programme?
“I love coaching and mentoring our apprentices, and the learnings we both acquire at these times. I am passionate about audiology and the role our NHS audiologists have in diagnosing, empowering and giving our patients the tools and support to improve their quality of life.
“I started work 44 years ago as a ‘vocational student Audiologist’ and today we have come full circle with our current apprenticeships schemes. So I know and have lived this pathway that has given me the opportunities to grow as an individual and professional. Therefore I was delighted when I was offered the opportunity to work with our apprenticeship team to bring together the standards and pathways required to bring individuals the opportunity (that was previously inaccessible with the previous education model) to start at a level they are comfortable with and see them grow into amazing professionals.”
What has been your highlight working with apprentices?
“It is seeing their ‘light bulb’ moments; when they ‘get it’; when they really understand a process or procedure, and what’s ‘really’ going on. To see our apprentices learn and achieve levels of learning and understanding that they often thought they could never attain.”
Mollie Lynn Stace
Apprentice Champion of COVID-19
What does it mean to you to win an EKAA?
“I’m so grateful to be selected for this award, it’s something really amazing to show for the work I’ve put in over the last year.”
What have you enjoyed most about your apprenticeship?
“I love working for such a big and important trust and being able to be part of the amazing work done. It’s good to be able to work and build skills and knowledge at the same time.”
What has your apprenticeship taught you/allowed you to do?
“My apprenticeship has taught me so many life skills and allowed me to further my knowledge in a job that I love doing every day. This knowledge will help me progress in my career and allow me to be a bigger part of the NHS!”
Oyster Financial Solutions
Private Sector Organisation of the Year
What does it mean to you to win an EKAA?
“Firstly we are very pleased and honoured to win the East Kent Apprenticeship Award. It is nice to receive the acknowledgement proving how important it is to spend the time to assist and support apprenticeships in the workplace, and help them on their first steps in creating their career path.”
What have you enjoyed most about your apprenticeship?
“It enables us to mould the apprentice into our way of thinking whilst they are building their knowledge. It also means we have a person who may bring new fresh ideas from the younger generation perspective and new skills to the team which we highly encourage.”
What has been your highlight working with apprentices?
“The highlight or highlights I would say is seeing how the apprentice develops within their new role, developing new skills and becoming one of the team. In addition, it is very pleasing for us that Megan has been nominated twice now and winning this time, along with us being the winner of the Private Sector Organisation of the Year category.”
East Kent Hospital University Trust
Public Sector Organisation of the Year
What does it mean to you to win an EKAA?
“We are absolutely delighted to win this award. We have found it really stimulating to establish a training programme for apprenticeships in healthcare science. It is a team effort, which includes our bright and enthusiastic apprentices. We know departments that train are more stimulating for our staff, offer career progression, and ultimately deliver safer patient services. So this really is a win:win service improvement.”
What have you enjoyed most about your apprenticeship?
“Working with the training managers and the apprentices, it brings positivity and enthusiasm to everyone involved. It makes for a really stimulating laboratory.”
What has been your highlight working with apprentices?
“Working with the apprentices and seeing their development – they arrive fresh-faced and unskilled and then progress to the goal they set themselves. Some have even gone on to complete their degree in biomedical science and become registered scientists, we are very proud to work with them.”
Rachel Macleod
Apprentice of the Year – Health, Social Care & Science
What does it mean to you to win an EKAA?
“I am very grateful to receive this award, as I know there would be many deserving candidates in this category, although my main joy is that winning this award raises awareness for the nursing associate apprenticeship, as there are many other health care assistants who should do this course to further their career.”
What have you enjoyed most about your apprenticeship?
“Gaining a much broader knowledge of nursing and learning new skills has given me confidence in the abilities I am developing. I have also greatly enjoyed working alongside registered nurses which have given me an insight into their roles and responsibilities. The support they have given me has helped make this course so enjoyable and kept me driven and focused to succeed.”
What has your apprenticeship taught you/allowed you to do?
“Having worked in hospice care for children in their homes for a number of years, this course has enabled me to go on placements which I have really enjoyed, I have had the opportunity to work on children’s wards and also as part of the district nursing team, both of which have shown me other areas of nursing and carry out practical skills I have been taught. I have also enjoyed the academic side and being able to work alongside other students who all come from different fields of nursing who have been able to share their experience and knowledge, helping me to develop in my role.”
Nathan Hogben
Apprentice of the Year – Education & Early Years
What does it mean to you to win an EKAA?
“When I started at Little Acorns I was a little apprehensive as it was predominately a female environment. However, my initial fears were quickly overcome as I was made to feel welcome and a member of the team from my very first day. Just over 18 months later I am coming to the end of my apprenticeship and winning this award has topped off a fantastic experience and journey. When I was told by my manager that I’d won this award I felt extremely chuffed, proud, and still smiling today.”
What have you enjoyed most about your apprenticeship?
“I have carried out my apprenticeship in a fabulous setting. The staff have helped and guided me through my learning journey. Working with children and watching them grow, learn and develop is amazing, and knowing I have been part of that is so rewarding. I know that I want to continue in this role for many years to come.”
What has your apprenticeship taught you/allowed you to do?
“I have learnt so much throughout this process, but watching the children grow and encouraging their independence and learning has to be the best part of the job. I have extended my role and set up a sports program which I organise and run on a weekly basis. The feedback I have received doing this from the children, their parents, and other staff members has been overwhelming.”
Lucy Kidd
Apprentice of the Year – Hair & Beauty
What does it mean to you to win an EKAA?
“It really means a lot to me to be given this opportunity, it has really boosted my confidence and made me believe in myself.”
What have you enjoyed most about your apprenticeship?
“Since finding the right salon I have really felt I have grown as a stylist and a person, which has made my confidence flourish.”
What has your apprenticeship taught you/allowed you to do?
“Its allowed me to be creative and build my skills in the hair and beauty industry. And it has taught me what it is to be part of a supportive team – it has taught me to enjoy my profession.”
Oliver Coleman
Apprentice of the Year – Engineering
What does it mean to you to win an EKAA?
“It means a lot to me to win an East Kent Apprenticeship Award for engineering. I wouldn’t have won this award if it wasn’t for the amazing and very talented individuals that I work with at my company. They have given me a wealth of knowledge that I have taken on board, learnt and developed from making me the engineer that I am today. I also wouldn’t have won the award if it wasn’t for my tutors at college for teaching me new skills and techniques and developing those skills I already had.”
What have you enjoyed most about your apprenticeship?
“The thing I have enjoyed the most about my apprenticeship is the people I work with. They are very skilled and extremely knowledgeable, as well as having a great sense of humour meaning that it’s never a dull day in the workshop.”
What has your apprenticeship taught you/allowed you to do?
“My apprenticeship has allowed me to expand and develop on my skills and knowledge as an engineer as well as develop me as a person. My apprenticeship has taught me that you should give every day your all and complete your work to your absolute best, and most importantly find the positives in whatever you’re doing no matter how hard the day might be.”
Megan Baxter
Apprentice of the Year – Business Management & Administration
What does it mean to you to win an EKAA?
“Winning an East Kent Apprenticeship Awards means a lot knowing that my work and attitude towards the course has not gone unnoticed. I feel proud to have won this award and of all the work I have achieved.”
What have you enjoyed most about your apprenticeship?
“As I didn’t have much knowledge going into this course, I enjoyed learning new things and new terminology which has helped me greatly in my day to day job role.”
What has your apprenticeship taught you/allowed you to do?
“My apprenticeship has taught me so many different skills that I can take with me into my career. For example, being able to understand more in-depth about the insurance process has allowed me to help and provide clients with more information when needed.”