A female engineering apprentice has won the top prize at the National Apprenticeship Awards.
Holly Broadhurst, from Leek was named the Nuclear Decommissioning Site Licence Companies Higher and Degree Apprentice of the Year during the award’s exclusive ceremony at London’s Grosvenor House.
Broadhurst, 22, fought off competition from hundreds of other apprentices around England to be awarded the accolade.
Broadhurst is a full-time Design Engineer at JCB Compact Products in Staffordshire, designing compact 360 tracked excavators, where she recently completed her Higher Apprenticeship.
On accepting the award, Broadhurst said, “I’ve learnt and gained so much more than I ever though possible through my apprenticeship with JCB.”
“I had a female lecturer during my time spent in the JCB Academy, and as a woman within engineering, she was a great role-model to encourage me into the industry.”
“When I first started my apprenticeship I knew I wanted to work in engineering but my apprenticeship enabled me to maximise my experience by rotating around different parts of the business, this gave me a good insight into how the company is run and helped me to realise the area best suited to my skills.”
Robert Halfon, Apprenticeships and Skills Minister, said, “Congratulations to Holly for your success in this year’s National Apprenticeship Awards, which have showcased so much inspiring talent, dedication and ensures that apprenticeships get the prestige they deserve.”
“I am always proud to see how many employers and apprentices get involved in apprenticeships across the country, helping to give a ladder of opportunity to people and deliver quality skills for employers.”
“I hope your involvement encourages others to do the same to ensure social justice for all.”
The awards, now in their thirteenth year, are run by the National Apprenticeship Service and recognise excellence in two areas: businesses that grow their own talent with apprentices and apprentices who have made a significant contribution to their workplaces.
Sue Husband, director of the National Apprenticeship Service, said, “The National Apprenticeship Awards have highlighted once again the magnificent range of apprenticeships on offer – with leading employers in exciting industries – and the skills that apprentices gain when taking on these roles.”
“Every year this event gets bigger and better, bringing to the forefront of our minds the importance of apprenticeships to local, regional and national economies.”
“Apprenticeships are for everyone and I personally thank each and every employer and apprentice recognised at Friday’s event for their commitment to apprenticeships.”
