Business and Apprenticeship Awards hosted at Sunderland College

Education Partnership North East (EPNE) held an inspiring event to celebrate the achievements of the region’s apprentices as part of National Apprenticeship Week 2025.

Held at Sunderland College’s City Campus and hosted by EPNE Chief Executive Ellen Thinnesen, the Business and Apprenticeship Awards were attended by senior leaders from across the North East and beyond.

The evening saw seven apprentices receive Apprentice of the Year awards across different sectors including Engineering, Health and Social Care, and Land Based industries, from Louise Doyle and Louise Bradford, one of EPNE’s Governor’s and vice chairs.

Ellen Thinnesen, 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. It’s a real reflection of our reach and impact.

“Hearing why apprentices had won their awards was really moving and it was clear the ceremony and individual recognition meant so much to not only the apprentice and employer, but to parents and family members too.”

The winners were Jessica Dowding (South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust), Amy Murphy (Gentoo), Kean O’Brien (Simply Sport), Alex Scott (Willmott Dixon), Mia-Moore King (Sore Paws Vets), Paul Nichol (Sunderland City Council) and Michael Tait (Parker Hannifin). The apprentices were presented with certificates and received a £50 voucher each.

Cieron Clasper, Bricklaying apprentice with Strictly Bricks took home the award of Overall Apprentice of the Year. Cieron was a worthy winner of the award after representing the college and winning the Guild of Bricklayer’s regional final, then being crowned junior national champion in the national final competition.

Cieron said: “I am delighted to win Overall Apprentice of the Year award. I started at Sunderland college on a full-time Level 1 course so to now be the Guild of Bricklayers National junior champion and Apprentice of the Year is very special for me and my family.

“My next steps are to compete in the Guild of Bricklayers senior regional competition in March and then sit my End Point Assessments to become a qualified bricklayer, and then hopefully I will be sending my own apprentice to be taught by Jimmy Stobbart and Sunderland college.”

This year Cieron is set to represent Sunderland College again in the Guild of Bricklayer’s regional competition, which will be held at the college’s City Campus.

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.

EPNE is one of the largest providers of post-16 education in the region and is committed to partnering with employers to deliver material impact for business and apprentices.

Several leading North East employers such as Sunderland City Council, Gentoo 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 Sunderland Care and Support and Canford Audio received Employer Recognition Awards to acknowledge their dedication to skills training and development.