National Apprenticeship Awards | National Apprenticeship Service | 25 May 2018 |

The 15th National Apprenticeship Awards is now open for entries - with new categories opening up for 2018.

One of the new categories is the recruitment excellence award which will recognise employers who have attracted a diverse and high-quality apprenticeship workforce through new and innovative approaches to recruitment. The National Apprenticeship Service will identify one individual winner to receive a recognition award, rewarding someone who has made a special contribution to the promotion and delivery of apprenticeships.

For the first time, a rising star award will showcase apprentices who have made impressive progress in their career to date and who show the potential, through their apprenticeship, to take a career path to the very top of their chosen profession. Nominated by their employers, at the national stage of the awards the public will be invited to vote on the overall winner for this category.

Apprentice employers and apprentices from all sectors and industries are invited to enter the awards. Judged by a team of experts, entrants have the opportunity to be crowned a regional winner at nine awards ceremonies set to take place across the country. From the regional champions, a national judging panel will select the overall National Apprenticeship Award winners, to be celebrated at a national ceremony on 28 November 2018.

Apprentice employers and apprentices are invited to enter the award categories
Employer of the Year categories:
SME of the Year: 1 – 249 employees
Large Employer of the Year: 250 – 4,999 employees
Macro Employer of the Year: 5,000+ employees
The Recruitment Excellence Award: new for 2018, the winner will be selected from the Employer of the Year award entries
Apprentice of the Year categories:
Intermediate Level (level 2)
Advanced Level (level 3)
Higher or Degree Level (level 4 or higher)
Special recognition categories:
Rising Star Award: new for 2018, recognises apprentices that have made impressive progress in their career to date, and have the potential to go even further
Recognition Award: new for 2018, awarded to an individual who has made a special contribution to the promotion and delivery of apprenticeships – to be selected by the National Apprenticeship Service
Apprenticeship Champion of the Year: recognises individuals who go ‘above and beyond’ to champion apprenticeships