Apprentice of the Year 2025
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 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.
Danielle Valentino
Apprentice of the Year nominee
Danielle Valentino began her career as a carer, became a senior carer then senior care home assistant practitioner and is now in the second year of a degree apprenticeship at University of Staffordshire to become a Nurse Associate.
The 32-year-old has been nominated in the Apprentice of the Year category of University of Staffordshire Business Awards by her Course Leader, Jennifer Beckett.
Jennifer said: “Dannie is an enthusiastic and conscientious Senior Nurse Associate who works extremely hard academically and achieves excellent feedback in practice. She is also a voice for her cohort group, acting as student representative.”
Danielle has been working at Bradwell Hall Nursing Home in Bradwell, Newcastle-under-Lyme, for 15 years.
Danielle said: “I’m shocked to have been nominated for an award. It’s unexpected. Everybody on the course is so deserving.
“I love the course. I love what I do for a living and enjoy being educated about it. The whole Nurse Associate team is amazing. The lecturers give us so much support and are always there if we need them. The support is constant.”
Kayleigh Simm
Apprentice of the Year nominee
Kayleigh Simm is the only female in her apprentice cohort at Newcastle-based KMF - but that does not stop her drive and passion for engineering shining through. Her employers say she has made “absolutely outstanding progress” in the 18 months she has been with them so far.
From a young age, Kayleigh had a keen interest in engineering from watching TV programmes with her dad and in her own words: “I’ve always wanted to learn how to make the products that I was seeing on the television.”
Before joining KMF in August 2022 the 19-year-old did a Level 3 BTEC in Advanced Manufacturing Engineering at Newcastle and Stafford Colleges Group (NSCG) which fuelled her passion for engineering. Whilst there she won The NSCG Principal’s Vocational Award in 2022, a sign of her talent, attitude and desire to reach her full potential.
Jenny Johnston, People and Culture Manager at KMF, said: “She is an extremely driven and talented young person who has made an outstanding impression within the company. A sign of the esteem that Kayleigh is held in can be seen by how many school and college careers fairs that she has led with the KMF team (15 in total so far), plus acted as an outstanding apprentice advocate on our Apprenticeship Open Day to over 140 visitors.
“As well as being extremely bright (she won the Academic Achievement Award at our last KMF Apprentice Awards), Kayleigh has the personal skills and qualities that really do show both herself and the company in a great light to others.
“An example of her willingness to develop herself and help others is that Kayleigh never says no to CSR and charity work on behalf of the company and is always the first to volunteer.
“More recently, Kayleigh has received her diploma results and has achieved distinctions across all units, an achievement not yet seen by any apprentice at KMF. Since opening the KMF training facility we have trained more than 200 engineering apprentices.
“Kayleigh has plenty of other experience helping us with our community work, as she is an integral part of a team that led STEM activities in a number of local schools throughout the school holidays. This STEM team were absolutely superb in everything that they did, especially when you consider that they had to go into a wide range of educational establishments – and we know from experience that schoolchildren are often the harshest critics of all! It was a steep but enjoyable learning curve for our apprentices, but Kayleigh was brilliant and the verbal feedback that she had was outstanding.
“Kayleigh has a fantastic work ethic, a mature attitude towards all that she does, and we feel that she will have an exceptional career. She is looking to undertake a degree in Manufacturing Engineering and then potentially teaching after that.
“She develops positive, productive working relationships with others, boasts superb organisational skills and revels in situations where she can support her peers.”
Jenny has nominated Kayleigh Simm in the Apprentice of the Year category of University of Staffordshire Business Awards.
Toni-Leah Sayce
Apprentice of the Year nominee
Toni-Leah Sayce is studying for a Chartered Manager Degree Apprenticeship with University of Staffordshire alongside her job as a team leader in admin and business support at Walsall Council.
Toni is in the second year of her course and has won awards in her workplace for the way she has applied for apprenticeship learning to her work role.
Now she has been nominated as an Apprentice of the Year in the University of Staffordshire Business Awards by her course leader, Kieron Chadwick.
He said: “Toni-Leah is a fine example of a person who has linked knowledge to skills brilliantly.”
Toni-Leah has previously been nominated by Anne-Marie Millard, Business Support Manager – Admin and Business Support at Walsall Council, who said: “Toni is already putting what she is learning into her day-to-day work which is a win-win for everyone. If you were to look up positive culture, perseverance, accountability or loyalty to team – you would find Toni in the definition.
“Toni brings both strong assets and a personality to their role and I am fortunate to have her within my management team.
“She is dedicated and hardworking and is extremely focused on continuously learning and developing best practices to manage routine activities both efficiently and effectively. Toni brings a positive high energy and a personal touch.
“Toni genuinely cares about delivering excellent quality work and she strives to integrate both an understanding of the big picture strategy and goals as well as disseminating her knowledge to her wider team which in turn empowers them to own their decisions and workloads.
“She does not shy away from a challenge, which sets her apart from some peers. She consistently demonstrates a can-do attitude and will find a way to solve a problem.
“She is also a trusted member of the management team she supports and is included in staff discussions. She understands how to navigate sensitive situations and ensure confidentiality while also eager to learn the business so that her support is meaningful for the service.
“Part of Toni’s role is focusing on team culture and creating a positive work environment. she has a vision to foster team spirit with forms of recognition and camaraderie in creative ways. She recognizes that a simple thank you, recognition or a shared laugh can make a person’s day.
“I highly recommend Toni. She is motivated and positively engaged, serving as a true example of collaborative working.”
Jack Brookes
Apprentice of the Year entrant
Jack Brookes is starting to take on a business management role for his employers thanks to the skills he is learning on his Business Administration Apprenticeship.
The 21-year-old works for BJW Health and Safety Services, based at University of Staffordshire’s Stafford Business Village, alongside studying with Juniper Training.
Jack, from Cannock, has been working as Business Coordinator since joining the company in February 2024.
He said: “The apprenticeship supports the business administration aspects of my job and I do on the job training for the health and safety side.
“It’s an online course via a training platform so I’m able to fit in the six hours each week around the hours that I’m needed by the clients I work with.”
After leaving Cannock Chase High School Jack was a Junior Supervisor at the clothes shop Luke 1977 before starting his role with BJW.
Jody Wilson, BJW Operations Director, said: “Jack is a very friendly and outgoing person, the sort of person that everyone gets on with. We just knew that he would be brilliant as the face of what we do.
“From day one all he’s ever wanted to do is help us with anything he can. Anything we ask him to do is never too much trouble. He understands that the client has to come first and anything we’ve asked him to do has been done.”
She added that Jack’s apprenticeship has also had an impact on the company’s sustainability policies.
Jack has been entered into the Apprentice of the Year category of the University of Staffordshire Business Awards.
Millie Quick
Apprentice of the Year nominee
T-Level Business Management and Administration student Millie Quick has become a mentor for other students working alongside her in placements at Newcastle-under-Lyme based Recruitment Robin.
The 18-year-old is in the second year of a T-Level in business management and administration which she combines with working one day per week as a recruitment admin assistant.
Her role at the company has changed to include mentoring first year T-Level and BTEC students and helping to teach them skills including goal setting and creating cash flow forecasts.
Selina Rudzik, Director of Recruitment Robin, said: “Millie’s journey has seen her evolve from a reserved student into a proactive and highly valued team member. She has taken every opportunity to develop new skills, build her confidence and contribute meaningfully to the business.
“As part of her professional growth, Millie was introduced to the local business community through networking events, an experience that initially saw her as a quiet observer. However, through her dedication and perseverance she has flourished into a confident and articulate spokesperson, not only for Recruitment Robin but for the T-Level programme itself.
“Millie’s ability to take initiative, think innovatively and contribute fresh ideas has made a positive and lasting impact on both Recruitment Robin and the wider T-Level programme. She embodies the spirit of continuous learning and development, demonstrating how education and work experience can shape a young professional into a confident, capable and inspirational leader of the future.
“One of Millie’s most outstanding achievements has been her transition into an ambassadorial role, where she now delivers professional presentations to educate and engage local employers about the benefits of T-Level placements.
“Through her innovative approach and ability to connect with business leaders, she has helped increase awareness and participation in the programme, showcasing how T-Level students can bring real value to businesses.”
Millie Quick has been nominated in the Apprentice of the Year category of the University of Staffordshire Business Awards.
Brooklynne Chadwick
Apprentice of the Year nominee
Apprentice accountant Brooklynne Chadwick began working with one of her employer’s largest clients, including preparing the payroll for a business with 100 employees, after just a few weeks in the role.
The 17-year-old has been praised for her ‘exceptional dedication, skill and professionalism throughout her apprenticeship’.
Brooklynne is studying for a Level 3 AAT Apprenticeship at Newcastle and Stafford Colleges Group alongside working at JMT Accountancy in Fenton.
Tomasz Putynkowski, Director of JMT, said: “Brooklynne has shown remarkable aptitude in her role, quickly mastering complex accounting tasks and consistently delivering high-quality work.
“Her attention to detail and commitment to accuracy have significantly contributed to the efficiency and effectiveness of our team. She has taken on responsibilities beyond her initial scope, showcasing her ability to learn and adapt swiftly.
“Brooklynne is a team player who fosters a positive and collaborative work environment. She is always willing to assist her colleagues, share her knowledge and contribute to team projects. Her excellent communication skills and approachable demeanour make her a respected and valued member of our team.
“Brooklynne handles client enquiries with professionalism and ensures that their needs are met promptly and effectively.”
Tomasz has nominated Brooklynne in the Apprentice of the Year category of the University of Staffordshire Business Awards.