UoG presents inaugural awards as part of National Apprenticeship Week 2025

University of Gloucestershire celebrated the achievements of its many apprentices from a diverse range of careers at its inaugural Apprenticeship Awards, held as part of National Apprenticeship Week 2025. 

The Apprentice of the Year awards were presented in front of an audience including dozens of employers and the friends and families of the 35 nominees, with guests travelling from as far afield as Hull and London to attend.

The event, which took place in the University’s Business School at its Oxstalls Campus in Gloucester, honoured the award winners and finalists across different subject categories in recognition of their academic achievements – all of which have been accomplished alongside working full-time. 

The Apprenticeship Awards was the pinnacle of the University’s activities taking place as part of National Apprenticeship Week, an annual celebration of apprenticeships at all levels. 

Connected with a number of sectors and industries, the University is already working with hundreds of employers and around 1,000 learners, meaning it is one of the region’s major apprenticeship providers. It is seeking further growth in apprenticeships over the years ahead. 

Ianthe Reich, who works for Gloucestershire Hospitals Foundation Trust and was winner of the award in Nursing Associate Apprenticeship category, said:“I’m so honoured and privileged to win this award.  

“I have gained a wealth of knowledge and skills through my apprenticeship. It has helped boost my confidence and I will be continuing my learning by returning to undertake the full nursing degree apprenticeship.  

“I want to say thank you so much to everyone who believed in me and supported me. It has been an incredible journey but I have come out a far more confident and knowledgeable person.”

Among the organisations supporting the event, which took place on Wednesday, 12 February 2025, was Gloucestershire Police, who are working with University of Gloucestershire to deliver apprenticeships to senior leaders and facilities managers. 

Melanie Hunt, Talent and Apprenticeship Lead for the Force, said: These awards are great. It’s incredible to be able support apprenticeships and the people who are putting so much effort into studying alongside working.

“This is such a difficult thing to do, so when we can take time away to celebrate these individuals and give them the recognition they deserve – it’s fantastic.”

University of Gloucestershire offers apprenticeships across 18 different programmes covering health and social care, business, education and cyber and computing. At the awards both learners and employers were quick to acknowledge the benefits of apprenticeship programmes. 

Catherine Daly, who works for MRG systems and was winner of the award for Apprentice of the Year in the Digital Technology Solutions category, said: My apprenticeship has been really good because it’s given me variety outside of my normal role. For example, the AI module that I am doing has given me more breadth and knowledge that will help me in the future.  

“It has also given me more background. For example, it has helped me see my role in context, so I have a better understanding of how different roles work together.  

“I think apprenticeships are brilliant.  You get real on the job experience which is attractive to employers, and you also get the qualification as well, which is a win-win.”

Georgios Michailidis, Training and Development Manager at JW Marriott Grosvenor House, said: “We are very privileged to have six apprentices working in our hotels who are on the hospitality management degree apprenticeship with University of Gloucestershire.  

“These apprenticeships are massively benefiting our organisation. When the sector opened after Covid there was a big gap in terms of the people and the skills available.

“These apprenticeships are key to filling those gaps by providing the right training to people who have a passion for hospitality and create a future pipeline of managers and leaders.”

Connections with employers from range of sectors

The Vice-Chancellor of the University, Dame Clare Marchant, DBE, said: “It has been a privilege to welcome so many of our apprentices and their employers onto campus for our first ever apprenticeship awards.  

“Apprenticeships are key not just to our future as a university but also to our prosperity as a country. As a university, we believe they should be integral to UK PLC’s productivity and skills agenda going forward. 

“We are exceptionally proud that apprentices make up around 10% of our university community. They bring different learning perspectives that are incredibly enriching for all, particularly in terms of how theory translates into real-world practice.  

“This event is a testament to the connections we have developed with employers from across a range of sectors and industries, including brands as diverse as JW Marriott, the NHS, Superdry, Zurich, Cyber Security Associates and Leonardo.

“By working with these employers, we are helping them to achieve their growth ambitions, which in turn supports the development of opportunities for all our graduates and alumni.” 

Main image: Winners and finalists at the University’s inaugural Apprenticeship Awards