Employers are being urged to nominate their star trainees for the Dorset Apprenticeship Awards.
Dorset Chamber has joined forces with the Dorset and Somerset Training Provider Network (DSTPN) for annual celebration of success with sponsorship from manufacturing firm Superior.
Entries have opened in five categories – including for a newly created Supported Internships award.
Dorset Chamber, the county’s leading business support organisation, has invited nominations from members and non-members for the annual competition.
The categories are:
- Level 2 (Intermediate) Apprentice of the Year
- Level 3 (Advanced) Apprentice of the Year
- Level 4 or 5 Higher Apprentice of the Year
- Degree Apprentice of the Year
- Supported Internship of the Year
The closing date for entries is March 30 before an awards ceremony at Superior in Ferndown with HM Lord Lieutenant of Dorset on 15 May 2025.
Dorset Chamber chief executive Ian Girling said: “Apprentices are a fantastic way to both recruit and train people, and they make an invaluable contribution to the organisations they work for.
“Our awards seeks to give some richly deserved recognition for all apprentices and highlight the achievements of those individuals who have gone above and beyond.”
Dorset Chamber, the county’s voice of business, has been organising the free-to-enter awards since 2022.
Last year’s winners included Intermediate Apprentice of the Year Sergejs Murnikovs from the Hendy Group, Advanced Apprentice of the Year Ellie Hubble from the Redtale Group, and Higher and Degree Apprentice of the Year Elliott Smith from Draken.
Tim Brown, managing director of Superior, said: “The commitment, quality and talent of award entrants never fails to impress.
“We are proud to once again to sponsor the competition and help shine a light on the unsung heroes of our apprenticeship community in Dorset.”
Entrants must be undertaking an apprenticeship programme or have completed a programme within the last twelve months.
They should be Dorset residents and working in Dorset although their employer may be based outside of Dorset.
Dorset Chamber, founded in 1949, is the only chamber in the county accredited to the British Chambers of Commerce.
Ranked as the leading chamber nationally with 120 five-star reviews on Google, the chamber has a vision for ‘a vibrant and prosperous Dorset business community that enhances the quality of life for all’.
Visit https://dorsetchamber.co.uk/dorset-apprenticeship-awards-2025/ for more details and to enter.