We're delighted to introduce our Oxfordshire Business Awards 2017 Apprenticeship of the Year finalists 2017! Follow the links below to find out all about them...

Nielsen is the largest market research company in the world, studying what consumers watch and buy across more than 100 countries. The company offers Apprenticeships at Levels 3, 5 and 6 and has just introduced a Business Management Degree Apprenticeship for September 2017. During National Apprenticeship in March this year, they were named as a Top 100 UK Employer for Apprenticeships. Their Apprentices receive exceptional mentoring and support and fantastic opportunities to develop a wide range of skills.

Social Sidekick is a social media management agency, designed to take the hassle out of social media for small businesses. Apprentices manage their own portfolio of around 10 clients and bring creativity and innovation to both their own business and those they work for. They set a fantastic example to other employers of how Apprentices can be used to grow a business. Social Sidekick really does have Apprentices at its heart and couldn’t run without them. They’re not just part of the team – they are the team!

The University of Oxford is the largest employer in Oxfordshire, supporting around 17,000 jobs and injecting more than £750 million annually into the regional economy. It pays all its first year Apprentices the Living Wage and offers excellent progression prospects. 93% of Apprentices stay with the University in full time, permanent employment. An annual University Apprenticeships Awards Ceremony recognises the achievements of Apprentices, who are supported and encouraged to reach their full potential.

Congratulations to all our fantastic finalists! We are looking forward to celebrating with them at the gala dinner on 16th June at The King’s Centre in Oxford, when we'll be announcing the winner. What a tough call! The winner will be following in some top class footsteps... read about last year's winner, Stuart Barr CDR.

Apprenticeship Ambassadors to present the award

We're very proud that our award will be presented by two of our Apprenticeship Ambassadors - Kyle Carrigan, a Marketing Apprentice at Jewel Training and Chloe Penniston, a Legal Services Apprentice at The Burnside Partnership. 

Judging the award

Another of our Apprenticeships Ambassadors, Tobias Gibb, a Business Admin Apprentice at Oxfordshire Local Enterprise Partnership, joined the judging panel to give the Apprentice perspective. Our judges were looking for evidence of the following criteria, which our final three were able to demonstrate through their application form, with further evidence gathered during a visit from a member of the Oxfordshire Apprenticeships team:

• Using recruitment processes to encourage applications from a diverse and inclusive range of candidates
• Providing an opportunity that has offered an Apprentice exceptional personal development and mentoring support
• Where an Apprentice has been empowered to make significant contribution to business success/growth
• Provision of additional learning opportunities above and beyond training provided by the apprentice training provider
• Evidence of a positive onward journey, either through retention by the employer, or progression post-Apprenticeship

We're very proud to sponsor this award and that such fantastic ambassadors for Apprenticeships will be presenting it!