Lakes College has celebrated apprentices at an inspiring awards ceremony during National Apprenticeship Week.

The awards recognised the dedication and achievements of apprentices who had been nominated by their employers, tutors and peers.

The event saw prizes presented to dozens of apprentices from a range of industries, including business, health and social care, construction, early years and education, and engineering.

The celebration began with opening remarks from Chris Nattress, principal at Lakes College, who welcomed apprentices and their employers to the event.

He said: “We train more than 1,700 apprentices and for those of you here today you should be extremely proud of your achievements to have been highlighted by your employers and tutors for showing talent, commitment and a promising future ahead of yourselves.

“Out of 1,700, it is you who has been nominated – what an achievement that is, and I’m privileged to be celebrating with you all.”

Iain Glendinning, vice principal, and Gary Martin, director of curriculum and skills, presented the awards with a winner and two highly commended apprentices named in each category, as well as an overall apprentice of the year

The occasion also saw the reveal of the college’s new Employer Pledge of Excellence, a partnership between the college and employers working together to meet the skills needs of the community.

The winners and highly commended apprentices were:

• Business Apprentice of the Year Winner: Kacey Toogood, Nuclear Waste Services
• Business Apprentice of the Year Highly Commended: Holly Dodgson, North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust
• Business Apprentice of the Year Highly Commended: Holly Hunter, Port of Workington
• Carlisle Apprentice of the Year Winner: Charlie Nichols, Bendalls Engineering / Carr’s Engineering
• Carlisle Apprentice of the Year Highly Commended: Thomas Gannon, Bendalls Engineering
• Carlisle Apprentice of the Year Highly Commended: Josie Lapping, Carrs Billington
• Construction Apprentice of the Year Winner: Daniel Albu, Mitie
• Construction Apprentice of the Year Highly Commended: Lee Burney, Kier
• Construction Apprentice of the Year Highly Commended: Hollie Turner, Amentum
• Early Years and Education Apprentice of the Year Winner: Kestrelle McGrady, Rainbow Day Nursery
• Early Years and Education Apprentice of the Year Highly Commended: Kia Lamb, Lakes College
• Early Years and Education Apprentice of the Year Highly Commended: Lexi-Jude Morgan, Moresby Primary School
• Engineering Apprentice of the Year Winner: Joshua Rogers, Amcor
• Engineering Apprentice of the Year Highly Commended: Kyle Nesbitt, CORE Nuclear Solutions
• Engineering Apprentice of the Year Highly Commended: Brandon Tauber, United Kingdom National Nuclear Laboratory
• Health and Social Care Apprentice of the Year Winner: Sara Long, Cumberland Council
• Health and Social Care Apprentice of the Year Highly Commended: Emily Richardson, Bethany House Group
• Health and Social Care Apprentice of the Year Highly Commended: Emma Walsh, Fairways Residential
• Higher Apprentice of the Year Winner: Jack Farrington, Morgan Sindall Infrastructure
• Higher Apprentice of the Year Highly Commended: Jamie-Leigh Blair, Morgan Sindall Infrastructure
• Higher Apprentice of the Year Highly Commended: Dillon Nichols-Scott, Cavendish Nuclear
• Lakes Nuclear Skills Apprentice of the Year Winner: Kai Opie, Sellafield Ltd
• Lakes Nuclear Skills Apprentice of the Year Highly Commended: Lily Calvert, Sellafield Ltd
• Lakes Nuclear Skills Apprentice of the Year Highly Commended: Gregory Jones, Sellafield Ltd
• Service Industries Apprentice of the Year Winner: Ellie Miller, Ullswater Aesthetics
• Apprentice of the Year Winner: Adam Procter, West Cumberland Engineering