With 11 category awards, this will be will be a celebration of the best and brightest young and mature learners and those organisations who are finding new ways to drive aspiration and education through their apprenticeship programmes.
The awards will be held at Walsall Football Club on Thursday November 16.
The Apprenticeship Awards are open to any apprentice or organisation that is based locally in and around Wolverhampton, the Black Country and Staffordshire region, reflecting the Express & Star circulation area.
To enter the awards visit the website and simply select the category you wish to enter, fill in the entry form and follow the criteria required for each category.
Competitive categories
There are six apprentice categories including: construction and property; engineering and manufacturing; health, education and care; professional services; tech, digital and creative industries; and hospitality, retail, leisure and travel.
The other categories include: education and engagement employer of the year; large employer of the year (250+ employees); medium employer of the year (51-249); small employer of the year (1-50); and training provider of the year.
The Express & Star ‘Overall Apprentice of the Year 2023’ will be chosen from one of the six Apprentice of the Year categories by representatives of headline sponsor, Walsall Council.
Last year Emma Hannon, of Walsall Council, was announced as apprentice of the year when the inaugural awards dinner was held at the Grand Station in Wolverhampton. Winners in a dozen individual categories were also revealed at the event attended by 285 guests.
Emma’s story of overcoming being diagnosed with diabetic eye disease in both eyes, which left her blind in one eye and with just 17 per cent vision in the other, also saw her win the professional services apprentice of the year category.
Judges amazed
Judges were amazed by Emma’s apprenticeship journey and her role in making a difference in the lives of vulnerable and need families.
Her tutor said that she did not let her visual impairment prevent her from completing her duties.
Walsall-based Performance Through People, which is one of the main partners behind the Ladder campaign in the region, won the training provider of the year award.
The Ladder for the Black Country Apprenticeship Awards 2023 are intended to showcase the best apprentices and their employers.
Walsall Council will be the headline sponsor for the 2023 awards following Wolverhampton Council.
