University’s Apprenticeship Awards celebrates winners for 2025

The University of Huddersfield held its annual Apprenticeship Awards to celebrate the achievements of apprentices and their employers over the past year.

The awards are designed to recognise apprentices who have made an outstanding contribution to their workplace, as well as employers that have been pivotal to the University’s apprenticeship programme.

Prizes across six categories were awarded, which were: Level 5 Apprentice of the Year; Level 6 Apprentice of the Year; Level 7 Apprentice of the Year; Small Employer of the Year; Large Employer of the Year; and Apprenticeship Ambassador of the Year.

Professor Bob Cryan, Vice-Chancellor of the University, spoke at the award ceremony, alongside the University’s Director of Apprenticeships, Brian Culleton, after which they presented the awards to the 2025 winners.

Mr Culleton commented: “Our apprentices and employers continue to astound us. We are very proud to work with so many extraordinary individuals and organisations. Every one of them has contributed enormously to building a successful and accessible apprenticeship provision at the University of Huddersfield. Our annual Apprenticeship Awards is a superb way to acknowledge their achievements and to thank them for being part of our learning community.”

The 2025 winners were as follows:

• Level 5 Apprentice of the Year: Callum Aspland – Professional Manager apprentice, Pretty in Paper by B;
• Level 6 Apprentice of the Year: Rebecca Webb – Occupational Therapist apprentice, South West Yorkshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust;
• Level 7 Apprentice of the Year: Lisa Kelly – Advanced Clinical Practitioner apprentice, South West Yorkshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust;
• Apprentice Ambassador of the Year: Tamara Kerins – Occupational Therapist apprentice, South West Yorkshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust.
• Small Employer of the Year – School of Human and Health Sciences: Remarkable Autism;
• Small Employer of the Year – School of Human and Health Sciences: Stainland Road Medical Centre;
• Large Employer of the Year – School of Business, Education and Law: David Brown Defence;
• Large Employer of the Year – School of Human and Health Sciences: Yorkshire Ambulance Service;

The University of Huddersfield offers a number of higher and degree apprenticeships, which are a way for employers to support their staff to study for university qualifications. Apprentices spend part of their time at the University and the remainder at their place of work, benefitting from on-the-job training, enhanced by their degree education.

Awarded an outstanding rating by Ofsted for its apprenticeship provision, the University is the largest provider of apprenticeships in nursing and allied health in Yorkshire and the Humber.

Earlier this year, Government data revealed that Huddersfield had achieved the highest Apprenticeship Qualification Achievement Rate in England for universities with more than 100 apprentices.