SERC Apprentice Lauren helps launch Northern Ireland Apprenticeship Awards 2023

SERC apprentice Lauren Johnston, winner of the Apprentice of the Year Award in 2022 has been helping launch the Northern Ireland Apprenticeship Awards 2023. Lauren, from Comber, is completing the Level 3 Engineering Apprenticeship at SERC’s Lisburn Campus and is employed by Diageo at their beer packaging site in Belfast.

The Northern Ireland Apprenticeship Awards recognise apprentices, employers and training organisations who have demonstrated exceptional progress as well as personal achievement and commitment and will culminate in a special awards ceremony on 29 March 2023. Economy Minister Gordon Lyons is inviting applications to find the Apprentice of the Year.

Speaking at the launch of the Awards, the Minister said, “I am delighted to launch the Northern Ireland Apprenticeship Awards 2023. Apprentice of the Year Awards started back in 2001 and over the years these awards have had a track record of showcasing and celebrating the depth and quality of the talent within our local apprentices, their employers and training providers across a wide range of sectors."

 “Developing the local skills base is a key priority for me and a cornerstone of our economic recovery. My Department’s 10X Economic Vision and associated Skills Strategy set out how we want to equip people with the skills they need within the constantly evolving jobs market and help to build on Northern Ireland’s successes on the global stage. Apprenticeships are integral to this vision."

  “It is essential that we celebrate the excellent work of our apprentices, employers and training providers and I would encourage everyone who is working in the wide range of apprenticeships available across Northern Ireland to share with us their apprenticeship experiences by entering the Northern Ireland Apprenticeship Awards competition.”

There are five award categories:
Apprentice Award (Levels 2-3);
Higher Level Apprentice Award (Level 4+);
Large Employer in partnership with their Training Provider Award (employers with 250 employees and over);
Small and Medium Enterprise in partnership with their Training Provider Award (employers with fewer than 250 employees); and,
Outstanding Mentor Award.

Applications for the Awards are now open. The closing date for applications is 12 noon on Friday 18 November 2022.

Find out more about apprenticeships at SERC.