ENTRIES are now open for the Worcestershire Apprenticeships Awards 2019.

All apprentices, apprenticeship employers, schools and training providers across the county are being encouraged to submit their entries and nominations via a new online nomination process, before the 12 July deadline.

The awards will be handed out at the Tree Tops Pavilion in West Midland Safari Park on November 14.

This year’s Worcestershire Apprenticeships Awards will be the sixth of its kind and the 2019 Worcestershire Apprenticeships Awards will celebrate the most successful apprentices, schools, training providers and apprenticeship employers across 12 awards, including the new ‘Careers Lead of the Year’ award.

The celebration event will culminate in the two overall awards of ‘Worcestershire Apprenticeship Employer of the Year’, and ‘Worcestershire Apprentice of the Year’.

Gary Woodman, Chief Executive of Worcestershire Local Enterprise Partnership, said: “We’re excited to be opening the nominations for the Worcestershire Apprenticeships Awards 2019.

"As our local skills network continues to go from strength to strength, we anticipate a large number of nominations and entries from apprentices, employers, schools and training providers from across the county.”

Councillor Marcus Hart, cabinet member with responsibility for education and skills at Worcestershire County Council, added: “We look forward to celebrating the success of our county’s apprenticeships network at the Worcestershire Apprenticeships Awards 2019.

"I’m particularly interested to see the success stories that are highlighted in the new Careers Lead category, as I know there are many fantastic examples of local careers leads who help to promote activities and opportunities around apprenticeships."

Apprentice Awards

• Intermediate Level Apprentice of the Year

• Advanced Level Apprentice of the Year

• Higher Level Apprentice of the Year

Employer Awards

• Small Apprenticeship Employer of the Year (< 50 employees)

• Medium Apprenticeship Employer of the Year (50 - 249 employees)

• Large Apprenticeship Employer of the Year (> 250 employees)

Support Awards

• School of the Year

• Training Provider of the Year

• Careers Lead of the Year

• Apprenticeship Champion of the Year