Southampton City Council Celebrates Apprentice Success at Apprentice Celebration Event

Southampton City Council (SCC) proudly celebrated the achievements of its apprentices at a special event held in the Lord Mayor’s Parlour on Tuesday 19 March.

The celebration, hosted by Kerry Eldridge, Director of People and Organisational Culture, Councillor Lorna Fielker, Leader of the Council and David Shields, Lord Mayor, recognised the hard work and dedication of apprentices who completed their programmes in 2024.

The event, sponsored by Impact Futures, The Childcare Company, LMP Education and Babington Training, brought together successful apprentices, their families and friends and nominees for the prestigious Apprentice of the Year and Manager’s Apprentice of the Year awards, as well as the newly instated Apprentice Rising Star award.

The Right Worshipful Lord Mayor of Southampton David Shields said:

“We are incredibly proud of all our apprentices and their accomplishments. Their dedication and commitment to learning are an inspiration to us all. These apprentices are the future of our city, and we are thrilled to celebrate their success.”

The celebration highlighted the importance of apprenticeships in providing valuable skills and opportunities for individuals in Southampton, at any age. Attendees witnessed the announcement of the winners of the aforementioned awards. Award winners:

• Apprentice of the Year: Lisa Wallis. Lisa's award was based upon a staggering number of nominations from individuals she has supported with her newly acquired coaching skills obtained through her Coaching Professional apprenticeship, including some of our social work apprentices from our Grow our Own programme.
• Apprentice’s Manager of the Year: Andrea Garden. Andrea supports several colleagues on apprenticeships within her team with the nomination highlighting how she goes above and beyond to create opportunities for new learning, encouraging time spent on obtaining off-the-job hours and providing support and mentorship.
• Apprentice Rising Star: Michael Gill. This new award was introduced this year for a nominee who, despite being fairly new to the organisation, is already having a big impact on their team and on our residents. Michael was described as going above and beyond in their role, overcoming challenges and remaining resilient with the aim of securing full-time employment with us following completion of their apprenticeship.

Councillor Lorna Fielker, Leader of Southampton City Council, said:

“Apprenticeships are a vital part of our strategy to develop a skilled workforce and support the growth of the local economy. This event is testament to the success of our apprenticeship programmes and the positive impact it has on individuals and our community.”

The council is committed to supporting apprenticeships and providing opportunities for individuals to gain valuable skills and experience. The success of this event underscores the council’s dedication to investing in the future of Southampton.

For more information about apprenticeships at Southampton City Council, please contact recruitment@southampton.gov.uk.