On Thursday 2 May 2024, Bridgwater & Taunton College held the annual Apprenticeship and Placement Awards ceremony at The McMillan Theatre, with the host, Emma Britton.

The annual awards ceremony brings together their employer partners, T Level students, apprentices, supported employment students and staff for an evening of celebration.

Andy Berry, Principal and CEO of Bridgwater & Taunton College said,

The awards ceremony is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the fantastic work of everyone involved. The stories of achievement, resilience, growth, and triumph never fail to impress me. We heard tales of aspiring professionals stepping into the world of work, equipped with determination and an insatiable thirst for knowledge. We also heard from our employer partners who have highlighted the benefits of work placements and apprentices to their organisation.

Through their dedication and unwavering commitment, they have demonstrated that apprenticeships and work placements are not merely stepping stones, but transformative experiences that shape lives and open doors to endless possibilities.

Judges had the unenviable task of whittling down the record number of nominations to just 12 award winners. The evening comprised of videos from employers and apprentices describing their work.

The event was kindly sponsored by Network Plus, MEH Alliance, UK Hydrographic Office, Somerset Care, Somerset NHS Foundation Trust, Supacat Group Global, Nuclear Restoration Services, EVO Academy, The Outsourced Recruitment Company, The Construction Skills and Innovation Centre, Mindful Education and Learning Curve Group .

Intermediate Apprentice of the Year went to Ben Allen, for his apprenticeship with Greenway Farm. Ben has grown hugely in stature since joining the team, working daily as owner Martin’s ‘right-hand man’.

Advanced Apprentice of the Year was awarded to Adrian Worth, who first approached his employer, Devonshire Motors ARC, wanting a career change. Adrian has demonstrated a commitment to success that is truly commendable and proven that mature students can gain qualifications which enable them to have a successful career change.

The Higher/Degree Apprentice of the Year went to George Reid for his apprenticeship with CASA Sports Academy. Since joining the team, he has gone from shadowing, to comfortably delivering PE lessons to classes of 30 children. His employer said: “The effort he has put into developing himself is like nothing I have seen before in my 8 years working with apprentices.”

The Work Placement Student of the Year was awarded to Reece Sutherland who works at the Cannington United Reform Church every Tuesday. Reece has worked really hard to achieve his targets and has become a valued member of the community team.

T Level Placement Student of the Year was awarded to Esme Pike. Esme works as a student Early Years Educator at Bright Sparks Nursery and has consistently shown resilience, dedication, passion and worked extremely hard throughout her programme both in college and when on placement.

• Highly Commended was awarded to Evie Blackmore and Ethan Mudzongo

The Supported Employment Student of the Year went to Matthew Loat who is working at Musgrove Park Hospital through Project Search. Matt has surpassed his managers expectation through his skills, attention to detail and willingness to learn.

Small Apprenticeship Employer of the Year was awarded to Evo Agency who have been developing ecommerce solutions for over 15 years. By providing apprenticeship opportunities, Evo not only contributes to individual skill development but also strengthens the local workforce.

Medium Apprenticeship Employer of the Year was awarded to Polden Bower School who are committed to ensuring the continuous development of individuals even after the completion of their apprenticeships.

Large Apprenticeship Employer of the Year was awarded to Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service, who have demonstrated a proactive commitment to the professional development of their personnel through the promotion and facilitation of Operational Firefighter and Operational Manager apprenticeships with Bridgwater & Taunton College.

The T Level Placement Employer of the Year was awarded to Digital Somerset, who emerged in 2019 as a force driving digital innovation in Somerset. The dynamic and supportive environment they offer their T Level student enables seamless transitions into significant roles, exemplifying Digital Somerset’s dedication to bridging the gap between education and industry.

The Work Placement Employer of the Year went to Historic Helicopters, who have been actively engaged with providing work experience placements to more than 50 students since 2018, making a significant impact on the development of individuals entering the workforce.

• Highly Commended was awarded to A Twist of Somerset

The Supported Employment Employer of the Year was awarded to Somerset NHS Foundation Trust. Working collaboratively with Somerset Foundation Trust as the host business, Discovery as the Job Coach and Bridgwater & Taunton College as the Educator, they support individuals with SEND and/or autism to get into paid employment through gaining valuable placement experience within the hospital.

• Highly Commended was awarded to Butlins

We wish to congratulate all the finalists and winners on their successes!