The stars of Rotherham’s future

Finalists and winners of the Rotherham Apprentice of the Year Awards pictured with the Mayor and Mayoress of Rotherham Cllr Alan and Mrs Sandra Buckley. Pictured are (left to right) back row: finalists: Tom Honeyball (Liberty Steels), Cameron Starkey (MGB Plastics), Daniel Harrison (Mears Group), Chloe Poole (Premium Beverages), Ashley Walker (Horbury), James Colquhoun (Taylor Bracewell), Samantha Horton (NHS), Ellie Matthews (Bluebell Wood) and Celia Troop (NHS); front row: winners Gwenan Durn (NHS), Ryan Morris (AESSEAL), Nathan Wall (AESSEAL) and Michael Michalweicz (XPO). 183933-01

THE future stars of the workplace were revealed as Rotherham’s apprentices of the year were announced at a special ceremony.

Young people from across the borough entered the Apprentice of the Year Awards 2018 - and judges believed the standard to be better than ever.

At a special event at the AESSEAL New York Stadium on Wednesday, the winners were announced as Gwen Durn of the NHS, who took the degree level prize; Nathan Wall of AESSEAL, who won the higher level trophy; Ryan Morris of AESSEAL, who took the advanced level honour; and Michal Michalweicz of XPO, who was named intermediate champion.

Other advanced finalists were Tom Honeyball of Liberty Steel, Chloe Poole of Premium Beverages, Ellie Matthews of Bluebell Wood and Jack Norman of Mears Group.

Higher level finalists were Daniel Harrison of Mears Group and Ashley Walker of Horbury.

Other degree level finalists were Cameron Starkey of MGB Plastics, Will Shield of Engie, and Samantha Horton and Celia Troop, who both work for the NHS.

Intermediate finalists were James Colquhoun of Taylor Bracewell and Jack Ledgerd of Cash Convertors.

Rotherham Advertiser editor Andrew Mosley, who was one of the judges of the competition - which was jointly run by the Advertiser, the Rotherham Together Partnership and the Business Growth Board - said: “We need to make sure we change the traditional view of apprenticeships as interviewing some of these young people showed us there are some true superstars of the future in the making - it really was like the final of Rotherham’s Got Talent in the Workplace.

“Apprenticeships get youngsters into work, put them in real-life situations rather than imaginary scenarios, they develop in confidence, they continue their education and they earn while they learn. What’s not to like?

“It would be fantastic if Rotherham and its businesses, schools and colleges could really get behind this event in 2019.”

Read the full story in this week’s Rotherham Advertiser.