Celebrating the Anchor Apprenticeship Awards!

Last week we celebrated our third annual Anchor Apprenticeship Awards which feature two categories open to anyone working at Anchor, studying towards or recently completed an apprenticeship, all are eligible to apply. 

The winners of our awards receive a monetary voucher, engraved trophy and certificate, overall winners are also entered into the National Apprenticeship Awards. Since launching the awards, we have had Regional Winners for Apprentice of the Year and also Regional Apprenticeship Champion!

What is an Anchor apprenticeship?

Widespread learning through apprenticeships was introduced at the beginning of 2019 and now there are over 400 Apprentices at Anchor across all of our business streams.

Learning through an apprenticeship can be a great way to find out more about a chosen career route while obtaining and enhancing skills on the job. It can also be challenging to fit everything in, completing assignments and attending appointments with training providers and mentors – all in all, it takes a lot of commitment, so we would like to formally recognise some of the achievements and contribution of our learners.

Award Categories:

Anchor Apprentice of the Year 2022

This award seeks to acknowledge and celebrate an apprentice’s exceptional contribution to their workplace. This is open to all learners on any of our apprenticeship programme. 

Award submissions are completed by the apprentice and authorised and endorsed by their Line Manager.

Rising Star Award 2022

The Rising Star Award seeks to recognise apprentices that have made impressive progress in their career to date and have the potential to go even further.  Apprentices need to be nominated for this award by their Line Manager. 

Once applications are submitted, the first round of judges use a scoring system for each question and select finalists. Finalists are then sent to our judging panel comprised of Anchor’s Senior Leadership Team. This year the judging panel had Managing Director – Care Services, Rob Martin and Lisa Pearl, Director of HR & OD. 

The Ceremony:

All finalists, their managers, team leaders and district managers are invited to our spectacular virtual awards ceremony event. Highly commended and overall winners for both categories are announced and celebrated. 

Highly commended receive a £50 voucher, engraved trophy and certificate.

Winners receive a £100 voucher, engraved trophy and certificate and are entered into the National Apprenticeship Awards. 

2022 Winners:

Rising Star Award

Winner – Daliah Ifeanyi- Care assistant, Kerria Ct, completed level 2, now completing level 3 Health and Social care.
 

I feel very honoured to be nominated for Anchor Rising Star, my apprenticeship journey has been amazing and continues still today, I feel very excited for my future with Anchor.

I started with level 2 Adult Care worker apprenticeship and gained a distinction on completion which for someone new to care I am extremely proud of. I then immediately progressed onto my level 3 Lead Adult care worker apprenticeship, and I am halfway through already and thoroughly enjoying, both apprenticeships have supported me greatly in my roles, if you want to do an apprenticeship join Anchor.

It has been a long journey and I still have a long way to go, and I can’t wait to be standing at the end of the road with a huge smile on my face knowing that I have had to make a positive impact on people's lives.

Highly Commended Rising Star – John Brookes – Harden Hall – Chef manager
Completed level 2 apprenticeship and is now on level 3

Joining Anchor at age 16, my journey has been amazing. I have continued to progress, securing roles as Catering Assistant, Deputy and now Chef Manager! I completed my level 2 Production Chef and have now progressed onto my level 3 Senior Production Chef.

I have not stopped progressing in my career path - Anchor have great career pathways. I hope to take things to the next level and eventually I want to get to a Service Improvement Advisor position and possibly even National Catering Manager in the future. We will see what the future brings, but it will be with Anchor.

Anchor Apprentice of the Year
 

Anchor Apprentice of the Year (Intermediate/advanced) – Bradley Hodgson- IT, Support Services Completed level 3 Infrastructure Technician apprenticeship

I take pride in providing the very best customer service and am so pleased to be nominated for this Award, just to be nominated and become a finalist is an achievement.

One of my proudest achievements this year is when I was nominated and won the Training Provider Apprentice of the Year award. This was accomplished because I made myself as part of the team, I provided support where needed and always go the extra mile.

I have a great team behind me who push and support me 100%.

Highly Commended Apprentice of the Year – Shane Milne – Catering Assistant-Firth House, completed level 2 Production Chef

I have received a lot of support from my manager and team, taken on additional responsibilities such as running the kitchen when the Chef Manager is on leave. From this I also mentored and guided our newest apprentice, passing on my skills and knowledge. This was a great experience as we completed our apprenticeships together.
 
My apprenticeship has been a great learning experience as it has given me a greater knowledge into preparing and managing a kitchen.

In terms of career aspirations, the next step for me is to complete my level 3 Senior Production Chef apprenticeship and then to become Chef Manager in the long-term running my own kitchen.

Apprentice of the Year (Higher/degree) – Lucie Cerna – Manager, Beech Hall, working toward Level 5, leader in adult care

This award is for my amazing team and deputy and of course our residents; together we all support and push each other.

Without completing my level 5 I wouldn’t be getting the knowledge and confidence in my current job and looking forward to continue progressing myself in the future with Anchor.

Huge congratulations to all of our short listers and award winners in the 2022 Anchor Apprentice Awards. For a career where you’re encouraged to progress and be celebrated for your achievements, join Anchor today. Visit anchor.org.uk/careers for a full list of open vacancies.