A huge congratulations to all of our finalists and winners this year. We hope you all thoroughly enjoyed the Gala Dinner and are proud of your contributions to East Kent.
Here’s a little bit about our winners:
Leanne Anslow
Business Management and Administration Apprentice of the Year category
Leanne made her Strode Park Foundation debut as a community carer 15 years ago. She was loved from the get-go for her outspoken, down to earth personality and determined approach to complete all tasks given to her.
She soon became a pillar of the community team, taking on extra shifts, supporting other members of the team while finding time to complete her level two and level three apprenticeships qualifications while also raising her two girls.
That was just the start with further study and workplace success leading in 2018, to her appointment as Registered Manager at Strode Park’s residential service. Since September she has been studying for her latest qualification, a Level 7 Apprenticeship in Leadership and Healthcare management juggling that with the demands of being a single parent, coping with a busy job and sadly the fallout of a recent tragedy in her personal life.
Holywell Primary School
Public Sector Business or Organisation of the Year category
Holywell Primary School in Upchurch have employed five Teaching Assistant apprentices over the past year or so, all from a range of backgrounds and with a variety of experience.
The school has provided a supportive environment for the apprentices to develop their knowledge, skills and behaviours through mentor support and regular in-house training.
The apprentices’ line managers and mentors are very supportive and engage well with the apprenticeship programme. The school provides an incredibly supportive working environment for the apprentices to achieve and grow and set a good standard of how apprenticeships should be done.
To date one teacher assistance apprentice has achieved their apprenticeship qualification and one is about to begin their E-P-A. All apprentices employed at Holywell say they enjoy their work and are motivated to achieve their best. They feel well supported in their apprenticeship journey.
Jake Milsom
Education and Early Years Apprentice of the Year category
Jake has consistently gone above and beyond in his teaching assistant apprenticeship. His standard of work and self-motivation is exceptional.
He recently produced a fantastic leaflet on his apprenticeship journey which he shared with the Year 11 pupils in his school to support them with their choices for their next steps in education.
Jake has been proactive in supporting pupils with special educational needs and disabilities. approaching the head of year to find out how he could best support their progress and achievement.
Jake has applied to university to pursue a Teaching Degree and there’s no doubt that he will progress to become an exceptional teacher.
Lily Crane
Health, Social Care, and Science Apprentice of the Year category
Lily has been an outstanding Science Technician this year. As an experienced teacher, yet new to teaching Science, Lily has been brilliant and a credit to the department.
Lily has worked so hard to pass her apprenticeship, but it has all paid off, earning a well-deserved distinction. The team are so proud of what she has achieved.
During her course Lily would often be trying out things she had learnt on her course and then working out ways to bring them into our classrooms.
This was especially evident in her work with pupils from Canterbury Primary School, attending Canterbury Academy for their weekly Science lessons – from experiments that hit the ceiling to powering light bulbs with lemons.
She has shown amazing grit and determination.
Amelia Smith
Hair and Beauty Apprentice of the Year category
Millie Smith started her hairdressing career at E-K-C’s Sheppey campus and struggled at first. Her secondary schooling had been difficult and combined with other challenges missing many lessons.
Millie though has bounced back and has excelled with her apprenticeship with exceptional attendance and an outstanding commitment and attitude.
Missed at school, Millie has recently been diagnosed with dyslexia thanks to work colleagues who noticed that she struggled with her reading and writing. It’s made a huge difference.
Millie recently completed her E-P-A achieving not just a distinction but the highest grades within the E-K-C apprenticeship department.
Jack Biggs
Construction Apprentice of the Year category
Jack came to with an education health and care plan for moderate learning difficulties and autism spectrum disorder but has never seen this as a barrier to achieving his dreams and ambitions.
If anything, it has made him all the more determined to succeed If anything, it has helped to inspire. Jack had previously passed his L2 Apprenticeship in Architectural Joinery and this year has passed his L3 Advanced Architectural Joinery EPA at the first time of asking.
Viking Crew
Private Sector Business or Organisation of the Year category
As a leading provider in the maritime training industry, Viking Crew exemplifies the gold standard for apprentice support, offering a diverse range of job opportunities and personalised guidance for each apprentice’s journey.
Viking Crew recognises that every apprentice is unique, with their own strengths, challenges, and aspirations.
They create an environment where apprentices of all backgrounds and abilities feel welcomed, supported and successes are celebrated as a team.
Julia Rumsey
Engineering Apprentice of the Year category
Julia is a plumbing apprentice who has shown real enthusiasm for the job, taking college and site work in her stride along with juggling the demands of being a single parent.
Julia demonstrates an outstanding attitude to work and her course and is an amazing example, even helping other students with practical sessions, showing how it should be done.
The feedback from qualified plumbing engineers at her place of work is always very complementary, praising Julia’s attitude and keenness to learn, as well as her great people skills.
Carly Larkin and the apprenticeship team at EKHUFT
East Kent Apprenticeship Champion of the Year
Carly Larkin and her Apprenticeship Team have worked tirelessly on the apprenticeship agenda since the inception of the apprenticeship levy in May 2017.
Working closely across the system with other Trusts and organisations, nothing is ever too much trouble with Carly and the team always willing to help others and share knowledge.
For the past year and more Carly has been a reassuring voice guiding Trust colleagues through a minefield of challenges related to apprenticeships.
Carly’s strengths include her kindness, communication and determination! It is obvious the respect in which she is held and is so confident in speaking up and being heard.