Apprentice of the Year 2026
Category criteria
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This award recognises the progress and achievements made in both an educational setting and in the workplace.
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Apprentices can be of any age, at any stage of their apprenticeship journey and can be working within any industry or sector.
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They may be nominated by their employer or training provider or they may put themselves forward, endorsed by their employer.
Angelique James
Apprentice of the Year nominee
Angelique James is the first to admit that she struggled academically when she first started her Chartered Manager Degree Apprenticeship at University of Staffordshire but three years later the picture couldn’t be more different.
Angelique, a HR Warrant Officer for the British Army, has been able to use her studies to bring about meaningful change within her workplace and has now been nominated in the Apprentice of the Year category of the University of Staffordshire Business Awards.
Her course leader, Dr Karen Castle, said: “It is fair to say she struggled with the academic element of the course during the first few modules. It became evident that she struggled with imposter syndrome and found some of the assessments challenging.
“She held a pressured position within the British Army and had to balance caring for three daughters, operating professionally within a high pressured environment and completing the CMDA.
“Ange sought support from University departments as well as from the course team and gradually, she found a confidence in herself and her grades began to improve. Not only this, she found that she was able to suggest improvements and changes in her workplace as a direct result of her own leadership development.
“One such improvement has become evident in her work based project where she has identified some deficits in organisational systems and processes that were having a considerable negative impact on the way the British Army manages some data.
“In investigating this problem, she found that in moving from a directive, transactional leadership approach to a coaching and mentoring approach, she was able to make some significant beneficial change both to the systems deficit and in incorporating a coaching a mentoring model to the leadership strategy for her department.
“This has resulted in a more transformational and collegiate approach across her department. The coaching and mentoring leadership model has created a more inclusive culture in which people of all nationalities feel valued and respected.”
She added: “As her confidence has grown, so too has her influence within her military cohort. Angelique brings energy, positivity, and determination to her role, fostering a motivated and productive working environment.
“She is increasingly recognised as a reliable and capable individual who can be trusted to take initiative, support others, and drive progress. Her ability to engage and inspire colleagues has had a direct and positive effect on team cohesion and performance.”
Kieran Wade
Apprentice of the Year nominee
Kieran Wade is the Operations Manager at Scarborough Sea Life Centre but he studied for his Chartered Manager Degree Apprenticeship at University of Staffordshire.
He completed his CMDA with a distinction and has now been nominated in the Apprentice of the Year category of University of Staffordshire Business Awards.
One of Kieran’s most significant professional achievements during his apprenticeship was the creation and launch of the Local Ambassador Scheme across the Merlin Entertainments estate, spanning locations from Weymouth to Loch Lomond.
This initiative identified and unlocked a previously untapped market by building structured partnerships with local holiday parks, accommodation providers and tourism partners. Rather than viewing attractions in isolation, Kieran recognised the opportunity to embed Merlin sites more deeply into local visitor ecosystems, creating mutual value for both the attraction and its surrounding tourism economy.
The Ambassador Scheme demonstrated strategic foresight and strong stakeholder engagement. Kieran designed a framework that empowered local partners to act as advocates for Merlin attractions, driving awareness, increasing conversion through exclusive offers and strengthening community relationships. This not only delivered commercial benefit through incremental visitor growth but also enhanced Merlin’s local brand presence and reputation.
Kieran has an undergraduate degree in Theatre Performance Writing and went on to study Operations Management then a Chartered Management Degree Apprenticeship at University of Staffordshire.
He has been working at Scarborough Sea Life Centre and York Dungeon for more than six years in roles including Commercial Manager and Operations Project Manager.
Sophie Galantini
Apprentice of the Year nominee
University of Staffordshire alumna Sophie Galantini has been nominated in the Apprentice of the Year and Young Business Person of the Year categories of the Business Awards.
Sophie, who graduated in Media Production in 2011, is now the General Manager at Hockerhill Adventure Playbarn in Brewood. She was previously Operations Manager at the independent coffee shop chain BEAR.
Sophie said: “It’s amazing to be nominated for the University of Staffordshire Business Awards. I really appreciate it. It’s amazing even to be considered. I’d love to be up for an award.
“I had a really good rapport with the tutor who has put me forward. She really supported me throughout my degree. I graduated with first class honours. I wouldn’t have that without her.”
Sophie has been nominated by Victoria Rosamond, her tutor on the Chartered Manager Degree Apprenticeship at University of Derby.
Victoria said: “Supported by her workplace mentor and driven by her own proactive engagement, Sophie has developed into a highly capable, thoughtful and professionally confident manager. Her portfolio demonstrates strong business acumen, creativity, operational competence, and reflective depth.
“Sophie embodies the values and impact of the CMDA programme. Her academic excellence, professional achievement across two organisational contexts, leadership maturity and reflective capability make her a truly deserving candidate for Apprentice of the Year.”
Rhyllan Taperek
Apprentice of the Year nominee
Student Rhyllan Taperek joined Stoke-on-Trent College in September 2022 to complete a full-time City & Guilds Level 1 Bricklaying course at the age of just 14, following elective home education, with dreams of becoming a site manager for his dad’s business: Kobra Construction.
During his first two years at the college he successfully completed both his City & Guilds Level 1 and Level 2 diplomas in bricklaying. After becoming eligible for a recognised apprenticeship, Rhyllan became a bricklaying apprentice for Kobra Construction.
Rhyllan has been nominated in the Apprentice of the Year category of University of Staffordshire Business Awards.
A college spokesman said: “From the outset of coming to college, Rhyllan demonstrated a passion and maturity that far exceed his years. On his study days, he is often the first to arrive, assisting technicians with workshop setup and maintaining a safe, organised environment, but it is his aptitude and skill for bricklaying that really set him apart from other students.”
Rhyllan’s tutor, Rob Harrison, put him forward for a Regional Guild of Bricklayers competition. Rob recognised Rhyllan’s natural talent for bricklaying and saw the regional Guild of Bricklayers competition as the perfect opportunity for him to test his skills against other budding bricklayers.
The Guild of Bricklayers competition sees students from Further Education in timed tasks that test their ability to produce high quality brickwork display under timed conditions. Rhyllan won the West Midlands regional heat and placed third nationally.
Following this, Rhyllan has also won the SkillBuild UK regional heat in the bricklaying category at Trafford College and represented Stoke-on-Trent College and the entire West Midlands region in the national finals.
As an apprentice for Kobra Construction, Rhyllan is applying the skills learnt in the classroom, on live building projects across Staffordshire. He is an active part of the Kobra team, working on new builds, home extensions and renovations, with a keen focus on efficiency and time management.
Rhyllan actively challenges himself by requesting increasingly complex brickwork projects, including battered walls, corbelling and angled structures, and decorative panels. These tasks have stretched Rhyllan’s own abilities and help him to prepare for his End Point Assessment.
His leadership also extends to environmental responsibility. Rhyllan has spearheaded sustainability efforts at Kobra Construction, advocating for battery-powered tools, sourcing timber from replanting schemes and promoting local materials to reduce emissions. He introduced segregated skips to improve recycling and actively encourages eco-friendly practices, resulting in measurable reductions in waste and carbon output.
The college spokesman added: “Rhyllan is not just laying bricks, he’s laying the foundation for a future defined by excellence, innovation,and integrity. His journey is a powerful testament to what passion, discipline and support can achieve.”
Kristina Swancott
Apprentice of the Year nominee
Kristina Swancott has become such a valuable member of the team at Citizens Advice Staffordshire North and Stoke-on-Trent that her colleagues say she is making an impact on the wider work of the charity as well as within the finance team where her role is based.
The 21-year-old joined the team at CASNS two years ago and balances her professional responsibilities with activities that contribute to staff morale and wellbeing.
Kristina has been nominated in the Apprentice of the Year category of the University of Staffordshire Business Awards.
Emily said: “Kristina is an outstanding young professional who has shown remarkable growth and commitment over the past two years.
“At just 21, she has successfully completed her AAT Level 2 at Newcastle College and is embarking on her AAT Level 3, demonstrating her determination to continually learn and develop her skills.
“Since joining CASNS Kristina has quickly become an invaluable member of the finance team. Her contributions have been instrumental in supporting the charity’s successes, ensuring our services are financially secure so that we can continue to support the most vulnerable people in our community.
“What makes Kristina truly exceptional is that she doesn’t just limit herself to her role alone. She actively gets involved in wider organisational initiatives, always contributing toward us achieving our mission and vision.
“She embodies our values of integrity, commitment and teamwork, bringing positivity and dedication to everything she does. She is a representative on the staff forum for the support services team, ensuring that colleagues’ voices are heard and their needs are fed back to the management team.
“Furthermore she is leading the organisation of our staff Christmas Party, demonstrating her ability to balance professional responsibilities with activities that contribute to staff morale and wellbeing.
“Kristina’s progression in such a short space of time highlights her potential to achieve great things in the future. She is not only excelling in her professional development but also contributing to the wider impact of the charity.
“Her drive, talent, and willingness to go above and beyond make her a role model for other young people starting out in their careers.
“has already achieved so much and has the potential to accomplish even more in the years to come.”