Finalists unveiled for the 2026 Lancashire Apprenticeship Awards at Blackpool FC's Bloomfield Road stadium
We’re thrilled to reveal the finalists for this year’s Lancashire Apprenticeship Awards — a celebration of the outstanding individuals, training providers, and businesses shaping the region’s thriving apprenticeship community.
This year’s awards feature 14 categories, recognising both the achievements of apprentices and the vital role played by employers and training providers in developing future talent — a true showcase of the region’s apprenticeship success stories.
This event would not be possible without the support of our sponsors, who continue to invest in and celebrate the achievements of apprentices across the region. We’re proud to share a few of their thoughts below.
The campaign has once again attracted an incredible number of entries from across Lancashire. Each submission was carefully assessed by our panel of judges against strict criteria to determine this year’s finalists and, ultimately, the winners. The rigorous judging process reflects the exceptional calibre of applications received.
We extend our sincere thanks to our judging panel: Cllr Kath Benson, Cabinet Member for Young People and Aspiration - Blackpool CouncilKatherine Higgins, Business Development Team Manager at B&FC for Business - Blackpool and The Fylde CollegeSte Molyneux, Emerging Talent Lead | People Team - MatalanGraham White, Chief Executive Officer - Lancaster and Morecambe Chamber of CommerceRebecca Wharton, Talent Development Manager - Government Commercial Agency.
Their expertise and dedication have been invaluable in selecting a group of finalists that truly represent the passion, talent, and ambition driving apprenticeships across the region. We’re proud to share a few of their thoughts below.
Rebecca Wharton, Talent Development Manager, Government Commercial Agency said: "It has been a privilege to judge the awards this year. The standard of the entries was outstanding and shines a light on how apprentices benefit individuals and employers alike. Congratulations to all of the finalists, and I wish you all the best for the future."
Graham White, Chief Executive Officer, Lancaster & Morecambe Chamber said: “I have genuinely loved reading through all the submissions and hearing the stories behind each apprentice’s journey. The calibre has been exceptional, with so many inspiring individuals who are already shaping the future of their organisations and their sectors. It has been both a pleasure and an honour to read their experiences, achievements, and ambitions.”
We are also pleased to welcome Eric Wright Group as our Reception Sponsor.
Jeremy Hartley, CEO of the Eric Wright Group said “We are delighted to be supporting such an important event, celebrating the hard work, commitment and impact apprentices make across Lancashire. Our apprenticeship programme aligns with our commitment to fostering a skilled workforce, directly supporting young people’s development and securing careers within the construction industry.”
Winners will be announced at a live awards ceremony on Thursday, May 7 at the Blackpool Football Club. Guests will arrive from 6:45pm for a welcome drink, kindly sponsored by Blackpool FC, ahead of an evening of networking, dinner, and award presentations.
For more details about the event and to see the full list of finalists, visit www.lancashireapprenticeshipawards.co.uk.
For any further inquiries or interest in presenting one of our awards as an event sponsor, please contact our event manager, Haroldine Lockwood, at [email protected]
Join us as we applaud the remarkable achievements of Lancashire’s apprentices and the businesses championing them!
Meet our Finalists
Intermediate Apprentice, Sponsored by Blackpool & The Fylde College
Erin Leadbeater, Lancashire Constabulary, Runshaw College
Summer Kirkby, Be Beautiful, Preston College
William Robertson, Roby Brimley & Co. Ltd., Runshaw College
Advanced Apprentice
Ben Sunderland, William Hare, Hopwood Hall College
Casey Pilkington, ESG Global, Runshaw College
Daniel Peacock, R&G Fluid Power, Aspire Procurement Training
Ellis Buxton, VEKA plc, Training 2000
Holly Gill, Robinsons Managed Pubs, NowSkills
Kate Smith, Rufford Arms Hotel, Runshaw College
Megan Johnson, Skem Skips, Runshaw College
Owen Hook, WWL Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Wigan & Leigh College
Zaynah Mohammed, William Hare, Chrysos
Higher Apprentice, Sponsored by Veka Plc
Jack Thompson, Runshaw College
Kirsten Illingworth, Reachout ASC, Runshaw College
Liv Mercer, Runshaw College
Sebastian Chadwick, One Fylde, Blackpool and Fylde College
Degree Apprentice
Amy Williams, Liverpool Council, University of Lancashire
Amy Witts, OCU Group, Salford University
Chloe Robertson, Performance Fluids Ltd, Themis at Burnley College
Christian Whilde, OFR Consultants, University of Lancashire
Joanne Barker , Barker Booth & Eastwood Solicitors, University of Lancashire
Niall Greene, Baxi Heating UK Limited, Preston college
Samuel Hulme, Radical Heating Solutions, University of Lancashire
Thahmid Alam, Proctor Process Plant Limited, Themis at Burnley College
Construction Apprentice
Ben Saw, Eric Wright Construction, University of Salford
Erin Wall, OCU Group, Sheffield Hallam University
Harry Molyneux, Eric Wright Construction, University of Salford
Michael O'Neill, Laing O'Rourke, Runshaw College
William Boyer, Blackburn College
Engineering / Manufacturing Apprentice
Abbie Prior, Leyland Trucks,Runshaw College
Adil Mohammad, SP Electricity North West
George Calvert, Eric Wright Group, Burnley College
Liam Pitt, Eric Wright Civil Engineering, Northumbria University
Matthew Green, VEKA plc, Burnley College
Shaun Gaskell, Baxi Heating UK Limited, Preston college
Health and Public Service Apprentice
Christopher Lowe, East Lancashire NHS Trust, University of Lancashire
Lucy Roebuck Saez, Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, University of Lancashire
Maisie-Paige Baker, St Peter’s Center BLC, Burnley college
Maria Jennings, Blackpool Victoria Hospital, University of Lancashire
Matthew Roberts, Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS Trust, University of Lancashire
Tracy Kay, Bay Medical Group, University of Lancashire
Professional Services Apprentice
Dylan Tetlow, Runshaw College, Runshaw College
Grace Bushell, Virtu Financial Planning, Themis Burnley College
Megan Pritchard, Burnley College, Themis at Burnley College
Shauna Mather, Pierce Business Advisory & Accountancy Group, First Tuition
Technology and Digital Apprentice
Aaliah Mohamed, SP Electricity North West
Felicity Bruce, Vodafone, Blackpool and The Fylde College
Joel Fairhurst, ESG Global, Wigan and Leigh College
Reece Taylor, Blackburn College
Mentor of the Year
Jackie Alty, Runshaw College
Kara Sharpe, Total Tots Ltd, Blackpool and The Fylde College
Marc Thomas, CaviTech Solutions Ltd, Blackpool and The Fylde College
Patricia Watkins, Runshaw College Runshaw College
Rebekah Powell, SP Electricity North West N/A
Apprentice Ambassador of the Year, Sponsored by Lancashire Skills Hub
Charlotte Wilson. Victrex
Emma Gardner,Eric Wright Group
Zafeerah Bagas, William Hare, Alliance Learning
SME Employer of the Year, Sponsored by North West Apprenticeship Ambassador Network
Bambers Building Contractors,Blackpool and the Fylda College
Davenports Group Ltd, AAT. Bury and Bolton Colleges
Eric Wright Civil Engineering
Eric Wright Construction
Large Employer of the Year, Sponsored by SP Electricity North West
Baxi Heating UK
Essity UK,
Leyland Trucks
OCU Group
Eric Wright Group
Training Provider/Programme
Blackburn College
Blackpool and The Fylde College, Chartered Manager Degree Apprenticeship
Myerscough College Centre for Sportsturf Excellence – Apprenticeship Programme
Skills4Group,Themis at Burnley College