Cleanzine: your weekly cleaning and hygiene industry newsletter 25th April 2024 Issue no. 1111
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Mitie celebrates winners at inaugural Apprenticeship Awards
Mitie celebrated National Apprenticeship Week with its inaugural Apprenticeship Awards ceremony, which recognised the outstanding efforts of Mitie apprentices and their champions. Winners were selected across six categories with each awarded a £100 voucher in recognition of their exceptional work. Mitie received over 180 award nominations from across the business.
Stuart Willing, a Facilities Management Level 4 Apprentice from East London, was acknowledged with the Management Apprenticeship of the Year award, having gone above and beyond to support his community while studying for his apprenticeship.
This includes offering a helping hand to someone who was sleeping on the streets near the site, working with local support services to ensure they received the help they needed. Stuart has also run an initiative to give out-of-date personal protective equipment, which was still suitable for non-medical use, to local care homes and charities, meaning it wouldn't go to waste.
Adam Henderson, a Customer Service Practitioner Level 2 Apprentice from Newcastle won Professional Apprentice of the Year in recognition of his continued dedication, resilience and positive attitude throughout his apprenticeship journey, overcoming neurodiversity barriers to excel in his course. Adam is also an Association of Apprenticeships ambassador, hosting and promoting apprenticeships across Mitie, including arranging Mitie apprentice networking events.
Keaton Leith, a Level 3 Refrigeration Air & Conditioning & Heat Pump Engineering Technician Apprentice from Manchester took home the top prize for Technical Apprentice of the Year. In addition to passing his examinations with flying colours, Keaton has taken the time to mentor other fellow apprentices, offering support and guidance to his peers. He has also received glowing feedback from Mitie's customers thanks to his consistently exceptional work.
Mitie also recognised the people who support learners to excel, including Apprentice Line Manager of the Year, Clare Hewer from Workington, who has ardently advocated for apprenticeships on the nuclear site where she works. This includes recruiting the contract's first early careers apprentices as well as supporting two existing colleagues in pursuing apprenticeships as part of Mitie's upskilling programme.
Sam Berry, an operations manager from Stockport, was awarded Apprenticeship Champion of the Year. Having started his career at Mitie as an apprentice himself two decades ago, Sam has worked his way up to become a regional manager in the Technical Services business. He is now a huge advocate for apprenticeships at Mitie, playing an active role in the Technical Services Early Careers Apprenticeship Programme. Sam has also personally managed ten apprentices across a range of programmes during his time at Mitie.
Mitie Property Services was named Apprenticeship Contract of the Year boasting one of the highest apprenticeship uptake rates, with more than half of all colleagues in the team either current or former apprentices. As well as supporting colleagues during their apprenticeships, the team is also committed to developing their long-term careers once they've completed their programmes. As a result, many former apprentices have progressed into management roles.
"I'm thrilled that we have launched the Mitie Apprenticeship Awards to recognise the exceptional contributions of our apprentices, managers and champions across the business," says Kate Large, director of learning & development, Mitie.
"We are immensely proud of the work of our 1,100 apprentices and the managers that support them, and this event is a brilliant way to recognise that. Congratulations to all the winners and nominees for their achievements."
Image, from left: Left to right: Mitie Property Services Team, Clare Hewer, Stuart Willing, Keaton Leith, Sam Berry, Adam Henderson
21st March 2024