Winners of NI Apprenticeship 2020 awards announced

The winners of this year’s Northern Ireland Apprenticeship Awards 2020 were announced at a special ceremony in Belfast yesterday.

Economy Minister Diane Dodds and rugby star Tommy Bowe presented the awards. The ceremony is one of the highlights of the Department’s Northern Ireland Apprenticeship Week.

The 2020 winners are:

• SME Innovation Award - Specialist Joinery Group, in partnership with Strabane Training Services

• Apprentice Award - Craig Holmes, employed by A S Watson Group – Savers and training at Babcock Training Ltd

• Large Employer Innovation Award - Citi in partnership with Belfast Met

• Higher Level Apprentice Award – (Joint winners) Colleen O’Boyle, employed by Mallaghan Engineering Ltd and training with South West College; and Will Bradley, employed by BT and training with Belfast Met

RELATED: Funded apprenticeships to benefit young people and employers

Minister Dodds commended all those who were shortlisted and congratulated the winners: “There are over 8,300 apprentices, including higher level apprentices, currently on apprenticeship programmes funded by the Department for the Economy, so to be nominated for these awards is testament to your hard work and dedication."

She added: “I would also like to acknowledge the work being done by the employers and training providers. Without your commitment and enthusiasm we wouldn’t be able to run these programmes. Apprenticeship programmes help us equip people with the skills and qualifications needed to support economic growth and develop our economy.”