Sunderland College host Business and Apprenticeship Awards

Education Partnership North East (EPNE) held an inspiring event to celebrate the achievements of the region’s apprentices.

Taking place at Sunderland College’s City Campus, and hosted by Vice Principal for Partnerships and Business Solutions Iain Nixon, the Business and Apprenticeship Awards were attended by senior leaders from across the North East and beyond.

The evening saw apprentices and employers receive awards across different sectors including Engineering, Health and Social Care, the Public Sector, Construction, Professional Services and Land Based industries from Alison Shaw, EPNE’s Chair of the Corporation.

Toni Rhodes Chief Executive of EPNE, said: “It was great to see so many employers attend from right across the region in a range of sectors and industries.

“Hearing why apprentices had won their awards was really moving and it was clear the ceremony and individual recognition meant so much to everyone in attendance.”

The Sunderland winners were Jack Reichard (Engineering), Oliver Watt (Health and Social Care), Jade Smith (Public Sector), Paula Malkin (Early Years), Paul Taylor (Bricklaying), Anthony Wright (Carpentry and Joinery), Jack Cummings (Motor Vehicle) and Faye Moody (Professional Services).

The Northumberland winners were Matthew Durkin (Engineering), Ben Marshall (Construction), Tyler Laws (Public Sector), Darryl Richman (Land Based), Luke Brown (Motor Vehicle) and Amy Rose Stonestreet (Professional Services). The apprentices were presented with certificates and received a £50 voucher each.

Amy Boyle and Gary Turnbull took home the awards of Overall Apprentice of the Year.

Amy said: “This award reflects all the work and learning I have done so far and for that I am incredibly proud. I am grateful to all the support I’ve had from Nissan and the college throughout my apprenticeship.

“My time at college was very crucial for my foundation when it came time to start working within Nissan, it gave me the basic skills I needed to get started and they are continuously improving. It also helped me come out of my shell and realise qualities I had that I didn’t realise before.”

Gary also commented on his award win: “Winning this award means so much to me – it feels like a real acknowledgement of the hard work, growth, and passion I’ve poured into my time at college.

“When I was told I’d won, I was genuinely shocked and incredibly grateful; it was a moment I’ll never forget. My college experience has shaped me both academically and personally, and I’m thankful for the support, challenges, and opportunities that helped me get to this point.”

Guests enjoyed a three-course meal in the critically acclaimed City Bistro restaurant, prepared and served by the college’s professional cookery and hospitality students.

Several leading North East employers such as Nissan, AJAY Brickwork, AESC and South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust, among others, were in attendance to congratulate the award winners.

As well as celebrating the success of so many apprentices, locally based companies AESC and TT Electronics received Employer Recognition Awards to acknowledge their dedication to skills training and development.

AESC took home the Partnerships Award and Chris Small – Learning and Development Specialist at AESC said: “We are delighted to receive this Award. We really value our partnership with the College that has been in place for over 7 years now, we see daily the impact the partnership has had on our staff, and we are pleased to support the College in developing the workforce of the future for our sector.

“Education and employers working closely together will ensure that the Northeast continues to be at the heart of the UK’s manufacturing/engineering industry and as we look to the future we intend to collaborate further to ensure EV manufacturing is a subject that is known to our students and potential employees.”

TT Electronics is a global provider of design-led, advanced electronics technologies for performance critical applications in specialised markets. The College are currently working in partnership with them to train 17 apprentices at their site in Bedlington.

TT Electronics were awarded with the Large Employer of the year award – Amanda Rutherford, HR Director at TT Electronics said: “We value apprenticeships as they play a vital role in developing skilled, motivated people and building a strong future workforce.

“Apprenticeships provide our employees with meaningful opportunities to learn, gain practical experience, and develop their skills while contributing directly to the business. They also support continuous development, helping our people grow their careers while ensuring we have the capability and talent needed for long-term success”.