B&FC apprentices and employers recognised at virtual awards ceremony

By Blackpool and the Fylde College

03 Apr 2020

apps-awards-mail-chimp-header-1.jpg

The current coronavirus pandemic has not deterred Blackpool and The Fylde College (B&FC) from celebrating employer and apprentice achievement, with its 2020 ceremony being held virtually on Thursday 26 March.

A highlight in B&FC’s events calendar, the Apprenticeship Awards are an opportunity to recognise and reward exceptional contributions made by the College’s apprentices and their employers. Hosting the event virtually meant the College could proceed with its celebrations while continuing to observe Public Health England’s social distancing guidelines.

Confirmed attendees were notified beforehand that the awards would take place virtually and, on the day of the ceremony, emailed a live link to the event itself. The Apprenticeship Awards were introduced by Principal and Chief Executive Bev Robinson OBE, while Linda Dean - Executive Director of B&FC for Business, the College’s commercial arm - announced the winners.

The event got underway with B&FC’s Apprentice of the Year Award, for which there were 18 nominees from employers such as the Federation of Small Businesses and Blackpool Council. The award went to Ashley Shooter from local, family-run salad production company Ingle's Dawndew Salad Ltd.

Other winners included Laura Zakubinska from Headstart - Blackpool Council (Apprentice of the Year – Highly Commended Award) and Blackpool Teaching Hospitals’ Clare Johnson, named Higher Apprentice of the Year and singled out as “an inspiration and an ambassador for the apprenticeship programme”.

Through B&FC for Business, the College has links with over 1,800 employers locally, regionally and nationally across a wide variety of industry sectors. It forges close working partnerships with them to co-create workforce development strategies that ensure the College is delivering training and education to meet their needs and support their growth. This high level of collaboration was recognised at the 2020 Apprenticeship Awards with four awards to employers.

The SME Employer of the Year Award was made to Holders Sheet Metal. The Blackpool-based firm, with over 50 years’ experience of bespoke fabrications in steel and aluminium, received praise for its “proactive approach to planning programme delivery” along with its “strong, enthusiastic mentoring”. Family-run company Bambers Remedial Contractors received a Highly Commended Award.

Blackpool Transport – the Blackpool Council owned bus and tram operator - was named Large Employer of the Year, after being said to have “fully embraced the potential of a well-planned and nurturing apprenticeship programme as an integral part of their business strategy”. The Highly Commended Award went to independent motor vehicle repairer KC Autos.

Principal Bev Robinson congratulated the winners and urged all nominees to be immensely proud to have been recognised at the awards, adding: “We look forward to the time when we can once again celebrate apprentice and employer achievements with you in person.”

Latest news

1

New India branch campus on the horizon for Lancaster University Keir Starmer meets Indian PM and included Prof Simon Guy Lancaster University. Pic Simon Dawson

New India branch campus on the horizon for Lancaster University

09 Oct 2025

2

Best events and talented students complete finalists list for Lancashire Tourism Awards 2026 Best Events and Talented students on Lancashire Tourism Awards finalist list

Best events and talented students complete finalists list for Lancashire Tourism Awards 2026

09 Oct 2025

3

East Lancashire Learning Group named UK digital transformation leader in CIO 100 Awards Andrew Dewhurst with the award win

East Lancashire Learning Group named UK digital transformation leader in CIO 100 Awards

09 Oct 2025

4

PHX Training appoints new business leader in Blackpool Jason Davenport PHX Training

PHX Training appoints new business leader in Blackpool

09 Oct 2025

5

Velocity seals Airbus extension worth up to $54m Velocity Composites Has Announced Its Entry Into The Us Market

Velocity seals Airbus extension worth up to $54m

08 Oct 2025

Background image for hub sign up block

LBV Hub

Leverage Lancashire Business View platforms

Post your news
Post your events
Post your offers
Build your network
Improve your SEO
Gain coverage in the magazine
Sign-up
Events
CMI Level 5 Management and Leadership Course
UCLanAerialCampus.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
21 Feb 2025 - 21 Feb 2026

CMI Level 5 Management and Leadership Course

Preston Campus, Preston , PR1 2HE

09:00 - 17:00

CMI Level 5 Project Management Course
UCLanAerialCampus.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
21 Feb 2025 - 21 Feb 2026

CMI Level 5 Project Management Course

Preston Campus, Preston, PR1 2HE

08:00 - 17:00

Help to grow management course
Help to grow - barriers to growth.png.png
LBV Hub Seminars
26 Sep 2025 - 16 Dec 2025

Help to grow management course

Preston Campus , Preston , PR1 2HE

09:00 - 15:00

Advantage: AI – A Workshop for Business Leaders – Oct 10th
Ai 10.10.png.png
LBV Hub Seminars
10 Oct 2025 - 10 Oct 2025

Advantage: AI – A Workshop for Business Leaders – Oct 10th

Door4 Office, Burnley Wharf, Burnley, BB11 1JG

09:00 - 12:00

Unlocking major project opportunities in the North West
Lancs-cham-logo.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
15 Oct 2025 - 15 Oct 2025

Unlocking major project opportunities in the North West

Strathmore Hotel, Morecambe, LA4 5AP

08:00 - 10:00

The New Employee Rights Landscape: Day One Compliance Essentials
EventBrite NORi - 15th Oct 2025 Webinar.png.png
LBV Hub Webinar
15 Oct 2025 - 15 Oct 2025

The New Employee Rights Landscape: Day One Compliance Essentials

Microsoft Teams, Microsoft Teams, PR253XH

13:30 - 15:00

The Autumn Re set - pour me a wine
LBV Advert_Autumn Reset 1200 x 630px.png.png
LBV Hub Networking
16 Oct 2025 - 16 Oct 2025

The Autumn Re set - pour me a wine

The Artistry House , Preston , PR1 3JJ

17:30 - 19:30

The Business Network Central & East Lancashire
LBV Header (26).png.png
LBV Hub Networking
16 Oct 2025 - 16 Oct 2025

The Business Network Central & East Lancashire

Stanley House, Blackburn, BB2 7NP

11:30 - 14:15

October Freelancer Meet-Up
LBV Hub Networking
16 Oct 2025 - 16 Oct 2025

October Freelancer Meet-Up

Society1, Coworking Space, Preston, PR1 3LT

10:00 - 11:30

Women scaling up Blackpool Fylde and Wyre
LBV Hub Seminars
22 Oct 2025 - 09 Jan 2026

Women scaling up Blackpool Fylde and Wyre

The Small Business Academy, Blackpool, FY4 5JX

09:30 - 15:30

HR Essentials for pubs, bars and licensed venues
EventBrite NORi - 22nd Oct Webinar.png.png
LBV Hub Webinar
22 Oct 2025 - 22 Oct 2025

HR Essentials for pubs, bars and licensed venues

Online - Teams, Leyland, PR253XH

13:30 - 15:00

RISE - Lancashire's unique leadership programme for women
thumbnail_Emma Weston Illustration WENDY BOWERS RISE Illustrstion.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
22 Oct 2025 - 18 Mar 2026

RISE - Lancashire's unique leadership programme for women

East Lancashire Chamber of Commerce, Clayton le Moors, BB5 5JR

09:30 - 15:30

Advertise with us

Reaching 50,000 members, our print, digital and event platforms offer a fantastic way to raise your business profile and help you grow.

Find out more LBV124 Online Graphic
Subscribe now

Weekly news bulletin