Shortlist Announced And Public Vote Opens For The 2025 Cornwall Apprenticeship Awards

After the biggest-ever year for nominations, Cornwall’s very best apprentices, apprenticeship employers and mentors have been shortlisted to attend the 2025 Cornwall Apprenticeship Awards on 07 February.

Cornwall’s very best apprentices, employers and mentors have been announced with the publication of the 2025 Cornwall Apprenticeship Awards shortlist.

The shortlist announcement comes after Truro and Penwith College’s ninth annual Awards received the highest-ever tally of nominations, with over 140 received across the 18 categories.

The ever-popular public vote for the Achiever of the Year category returns, providing members of the public with the opportunity to vote for their winner of the category that recognises learners who have overcome a personal challenge or adversity.

Having outgrown its traditional College venue in 2024, the ninth annual Awards is set to return to the Eden Project on Friday 07 February, hosted by Truro and Penwith College, Supported by Hertzian, with Award Partners Duchy Hospital, Wildanet, Watson-Marlow, Media Partners Business Cornwall, Reception Sponsors CORMAC and a host of local and national sponsors. (See Boxout 2)

49 nominees from Colleges and training providers across Cornwall have been shortlisted in 18 categories for the Awards evening, including brand-new Nursing & Clinical and Healthcare & Early Years categories that have been added to reflect the recent growth and impact of apprenticeships in these sectors.

The new categories join the highly popular Academic Mentor and Workplace Mentor of the Year categories that were added in 2024 to recognise those who offer apprentices exceptional levels of support to achieve strong starts to their future careers.

The Awards ceremony will be presented by Neil and Saffy from Hits Radio Cornwall’s Breakfast Show on Friday 07 February. The full shortlist is available at www.truro-penwith.ac.uk/caa. (See Boxout 1)

The Achiever of the Year category awards an apprentice who has overcome personal challenge or adversity to successfully complete their apprenticeship training and make valuable contributions to their employer.

The inspirational stories of the 2025 Achiever of the Year nominees; Cheryl Wright, Toby Phillips and Piers Smith can be found at; www.truro-penwith.ac.uk/cornwall-apprenticeship-awards/public-vote/ where members of the public can vote for their winner – voting closes on 20 November.

Chef apprentice, Piers has a hearing impediment and some learning needs that give him a unique outlook on life. He was the victim of bullying at school, was worried about stepping back into education and his first day at College was the first time he left Fowey on his own. He has since delivered an increase in profit for his employer and raised over £1,000 for charity.

Marketing apprentice Cheryl is a mature apprentice that has overcome many challenges as a mother of four facing eviction from her home, navigating two house moves and breaking her hand alongside completing her final portfolio work, filling a critical gap in her employer’s marketing to raise the profile of adult social care jobs in Cornwall.

Hospitality apprentice Toby has committed a lot of energy and focus to succeed while overcoming personal challenges, displaying high levels of determination to manage the workload of English and Maths qualifications alongside his apprenticeship, moving from entry-level tasks at work to running his own section of the restaurant and training new team members.

James Angliss, degree-level Chartered Surveyor apprentice, won the coveted title of Cornwall’s Apprentice of the Year 2024 along with Construction and Trade Occupations Apprentice of the Year for his exceptional success following a life-changing diagnosis.

James joined RCHT following a diagnosis of IBD and went on to achieve two promotions, project managing a multi-million-pound breast screening equipment replacement programme.

James commented: “For anybody that isn’t an apprentice and might want to be, just take a look, there’s lots of inspiring people in the room today. Just listen to their stories, apprenticeships are a great pathway and I’ve benefited a great deal out of it and you could too.”

Twenty local and national organisations have come out in force to support the 2025 Awards (see Boxout 2) and the positive impact apprenticeships are having on learners, businesses and communities. Experts from these sponsors will make up the judging panel, with sponsors ineligible to judge any categories where their employees have been nominated.

Martin Tucker, Principal at Truro and Penwith College, commented: “We are delighted to announce the shortlist for the ninth annual Cornwall Apprenticeship Awards. The College is incredibly proud of the Awards and the high regard in which it is held by employers and learners across the county.

“For apprenticeships to deliver economically they need to be of the highest quality. The Awards presents a perfect opportunity to recognise that quality and we look forward to a very enjoyable evening celebrating all the talent that exists across the apprenticeship provision in the county on 07 February”.

Anyone seeking advice on apprenticeship training programmes, or for opportunities to get involved in the Cornwall Apprenticeship Awards should contact the Truro and Penwith College Apprenticeship team on 01872 305500 or email apprenticeships@truro-penwith.ac.uk.

For more information about the 2025 Cornwall Apprenticeship Awards visit www.truro-penwith.ac.uk/caa.