On Wednesday 5 February, Kirklees College hosted an awards ceremony to celebrate the hard work of its Food and Drink Manufacturing Apprentices. The awards were held at the college’s Huddersfield Centre for the first time, and apprentices, their employers and family and friends were invited to enjoy a two-course dinner and drinks reception prepared by Kirklees College students before the awards commenced.
Awards presented included Best All-Rounder, Best Practical, Best Theory, Most Improved and Tutor Choice, with an apprentice from year one, two and three all being honoured in each category. Finley Campbell, Level 3 Food and Drink Maintenance Engineering Apprentice, secured the special Outstanding Learner award in recognition of his exceptional commitment to his apprenticeship.
The apprentices, who study at the college’s specialist Process Manufacturing Centre in Huddersfield, are employed by some of the region’s biggest Food and Drink employers, many of whom attended the awards. Employers in attendance to support the learners included: Princes Soft Drinks, Mars Petcare, Arla, Solina, Fox’s Burtons Companies, Haribo, Premier Foods, Hovis, Grupo Bimbo and Sonoco.
An employer from Princes Soft Drinks who attended the evening had some great things to say about it:
“There was a great welcoming reception from everyone. The hospitality was excellent and award ceremony was perfect, well presented, and professionally executed. Well done.”
The awards themselves were presented by Curriculum Area Manager Gary Parkinson, and Kirklees College’s Head of Apprenticeships and Business Development Paul Edwards gave the opening address. Speaking at the ceremony, Paul Edwards said:
“It’s fantastic to see so many employers here and some of our incredibly talented apprentices who are being recognised tonight for their outstanding work.”
The awards also preceded the college’s wider National Apprenticeship Week celebrations and activities, which will be taking place across its seven specialist centres between Monday 10 and Friday 14 February. During National Apprenticeship Week, Kirklees College will be promoting its extensive apprenticeship offer to current and prospective students, including Food and Drink and wider Engineering, Process Manufacturing and Fabrication and Welding industries.
To find out more about Kirklees College’s Engineering and wider apprenticeship offer, which spans over 20 sectors, and over 1,000 employers, visit www.kirkleescollege.ac.uk/apprenticeships.