Excitement is building as apprentices across Cornwall receive the news that they have been shortlisted for an accolade at the first-ever Cornwall Apprenticeship Awards.

Individual achievement, contribution and talent will be celebrated with Apprentice of the Year awards across a range of sectors. Judges from a selection of local businesses and organisations have been busy shortlisting the many nominations to just three contenders per category. The nominees are:

Accountancy Apprentice of the Year

Connor Bridgway from GCSC Ltd

Kate Cooke from Lang Bennetts

Paul Morgan from Bluesky Business Support Ltd.

Business Apprentice of the Year

Rebecca Trethewey from River Practice Specialist Centre

Stephanie Hosken from Cornwall Fire, Rescue & Community Safety Service

Matt Fulford from Eden Project.

Construction Apprentice of the Year

Brandon Mawson from GF Construction Gavin Forehead

James Doyle from Coastline Services Ltd

Jack Ward from CSW Construction

Engineering Apprentice of the Year

Samuel Morley from WES Engineering

Robert Condie from Datasharp UK

David Winter from Restormel CNC Engineering.

Customer Service & Retail Apprentice of the Year

Megan Williams from Cornwall Fire & Rescue Service

Scott Allen from Cornwall Hospice Care

Ellen Thomas from Bodmin Community Fire Station

Management & Marketing Apprentice of the Year

Darren Little from St Aubyn Estate

Clare Davison from BF Adventure

Emily Lunnon from Spiezia Organics Ltd.

Hair & Beauty Apprentice of the Year

Ayla Herbert from Inspiration Professional

Alice Rowling from S2 & S3 Hair Studios

Daisy Baxter from Marzipan Hair.

Hospitality Apprentice of the Year

Samuela Taukei from Trebarwith Hotel

Kieran Douglas from Eden Project

John Foster from The Seafood Restaurant

Motor Vehicle Apprentice of the Year

Jacob Wood from Trelawney Citroen

Ryan Waters from Automasters

Daniel Stephens from L J Richards & Sons

IT & Digital Apprentice of the Year

Emily Dunn from Focus Technology Europe Ltd

Oliver Coleshill from Pirate FM

Corey Riches from Leap

Health & Social Care and Child Care Apprentice of the Year

Katie Wills from Marazion Surgery

Virginia Channon from Manor Surgery

Somer Miles from Little Stars

Apprentice Achiever of the Year

Ilham Dani from The Seafood Restaurant

Daisy Baxter from Marzipan Hair

Clare Davison from BF Adventure.

In addition to all the worthy nominees in the apprentice categories, Cornish businesses are also being recognised for their contribution to Apprenticeship programmes. Coastline Housing, WISKA UK and Tom Raffield Design are up against each other in the Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) Apprentice Employer of the Year category.

The Large Apprentice Employer of the Year category sees The Seafood Restaurant, CORMAC and Cornwall Care shortlisted for the award.

Tamsyn Harris, Head of Truro and Penwith College Business, said: “We have been overwhelmed by the calibre and number of applicants for the Apprenticeship Awards, making it really difficult for judges to finalise the shortlist. It is great to see the nominees coming from such a diverse range of businesses – congratulations to them all and we look forward to celebrating with them on the night of October 9th.”

The winners of all of these categories, plus the coveted overall Apprentice of the Year award, will be announced at the prestigious Cornwall Apprenticeship Awards ceremony on Friday 9th October at Truro and Penwith College. The evening will feature dinner designed and prepared by Stephane Delourme, Head Chef at The Seafood Restaurant, assisted by chefs from the Rick Stein Academy.

Tickets are still available from www.truro-penwith.ac.uk/cornwallapprenticeshipawards but hurry, they’re selling fast.

Image: Trophy

Caption: Who will be crowned Apprentice of the Year?