The Scottish Apprenticeship Awards recognise the resilience and hard work of Foundation, Modern and Graduate Apprentices. They also shine a spotlight on those employers, providers and individuals who champion apprenticeships.
Award winners were announced at our virtual awards ceremony. This was broadcast on Wednesday 9 March 2022, during Scottish Apprenticeship Week.
To watch the event, head over to our YouTube channel and scroll down to view the full list of our fantastic winners!
This year's winners
Scotland's Apprentice of the Year
Jennifer Kolonko
Engineering Maintenance (Engineering Systems), Coca-Cola Europacific Partners
Jennifer is the first female engineer at Coca-Cola's Europacific Partners (CCEP) site in East Kilbride. The 29-year-old is committed to increasing diversity in the male-dominated engineering industry.
Hamilton-based Jennifer started her Modern Apprenticeship in August 2017 and completed it in April 2021. Supported by East Kilbride & District Engineering Group Training Association, Jennifer switched from personal training to engineering.
Apprentice Ambassador of the Year
Sponsored by
David Scott
IT and Telecommunications, Aviva
IT apprentice David has been championing apprenticeships in many ways whilst at financial firm Aviva.
As a member of Scotland’s Apprentice Network, David has been involved in Scottish Apprenticeship Week.
He hosted a session for young people during Scottish Careers Week and addressed delegates at a Green Skills Conference.
The talented apprentice is also helping to shape the development of apprenticeships through his role on the Scottish Apprenticeship Advisory Board.
Foundation Apprentice of the Year
Sponsored by
Nathan MacDonald
Automotive, Inverness Kart Raceway
Highland teenager Nathan MacDonald is on track for a career in mechanics thanks to a successful Foundation Apprenticeship he took at school. This was delivered in partnership with learning provider, DAY1 Limited.
17-year-old care-experienced Nathan, from Inverness, started his SCQF Level 4 Foundation Apprenticeship in mechanics in August 2020 as an option choice. Nathan finished the apprenticeship in June 2021 and is now firing on all cylinders having got a job with the track.
Modern Apprentice of the Year - SCQF Level 5
Sponsored by
Sarah Sandison
Accounting, Bon Accord Accountancy Ltd
Sarah Sandison is living the dream thanks to a Modern Apprenticeship. The 26-year-old always wanted to stay in her home of Shetland while she built her career. When Sarah finished school, she didn't want to leave Shetland to study.
After joining Lerwick's Bon Accord Accountancy Limited, she decided an apprenticeship was the perfect route for her.
Sarah has been supported all the way by her learning provider, BPP/Train Shetland. She works primarily in the wages department, as well as carrying out some book-keeping.
Modern Apprentice of the Year - SCQF Level 6+
Sponsored by
Jennifer Kolonko
Engineering Maintenance (Engineering Systems), Coca-Cola Europacific Partners
Jennifer was the first female engineer at the Coca-Cola Europacific Partners (CCEP) site in East Kilbride. In a complete career change from personal training to engineering, Jennifer has excelled on her Modern Apprenticeship.
Supported by East Kilbride & District Engineering Group Training Association, she made a big impact on the business. Jennifer has contributed greatly on CCEP’s performance and sustainability credentials.
Graduate Apprentice of the Year
Sponsored by
Meg Scott
Civil Engineering, AECOM
Meg has impressed colleagues, clients and industry leaders since beginning her civil engineering apprenticeship at AECOM in 2019. Working in Glasgow, she has been instrumental in helping the streets team pursue Scotland’s net zero goals.
The 21-year-old has already become a valuable team member having completed Civils 3D training. She has been supported by learning provider, Glasgow Caledonian University. Meg is passionate about engineering which has also translated into her voluntary work with the Scouts.
SME Employer of the Year
Sponsored by
Pointer Ltd
Glasgow
Glasgow-based Pointer Ltd has invested in additional support for apprentices to help diversify its business and secure skills for its future.
Enabling access to apprenticeship opportunities for people, regardless of barriers to learning, has been a focus for fire and security specialists Pointer Ltd.
The firm successfully recruited an additional 10 apprentices during the pandemic, with plans to recruit 4 more in 2022. There are currently 13 Modern Apprentices and one Graduate Apprentice at the IIP and IIYP Gold employer.
SME Employer of the Year - Promoting Diversity
ES (Catering Ltd BASE)
Leven
Leven-based ES Catering, which runs successful restaurant Base alongside new venture TRUTH, currently supports six Modern Apprentices.
The firm has also supported another 15 Modern Apprentices, who make a huge contribution to the team.
Such commitment to the pathway will be no surprise to those who know founder Ewan Brown. Learning provider MGT Training supported him through his own apprenticeship. He then co-founded ES Catering with business partner Steven O’Donnell in 2016.
Large Employer of the Year
Sponsored by
DSM Nutrition Products (UK) Ltd
Dalry
Ayrshire-based vitamins manufacturer, DSM, has tapped into diverse local talent and build partnerships to supplement the skills it needs to grow its business.
The apprentice programme, which started in 1963, has gone on to help DSM Dalry upskill existing employees. It has also given young people opportunities to learn about science, engineering and technology.
Their actions have paved the way for a new era of young women to consider a STEM-related career offered by DSM.
Large Employer of the Year - Promoting Diversity
Scottish Power
Glasgow
Energy firm ScottishPower has been delivering Modern Apprenticeships since 2012. However, their commitment to developing workers stems all the way back to the 1950s.
In a bid to address the issues surrounding an aging workforce and the need for new skills, the Glasgow-based energy company deployed a successful apprenticeship strategy.
Since 2012, ScottishPower has recruited over 200 apprentices and pride themselves on having a current apprentice retention rate of 95%.
Apprentice Instructor of the Year
Lindsay Kemp
Forster Group Ltd
With 30 years of experience in Scotland's roofing sector, Lindsay has been the dedicated Forster Skills Academy Trainer since 2015.
He has trained 50 Modern Roofing Apprentices and takes an active involvement in their development. Lindsay helps the apprentices settle into their residential training and maintains a level of pastoral care while training them.
He said: “I love passing my knowledge on to Apprentices and watching them grow."
Innovation in Learning Provision
Sponsored by
Care Team at Dundee and Angus College
Dundee
Dundee and Angus College has a long and successful history supporting apprenticeships with some 380 Foundation Apprentices and 346 Modern Apprentices.
With both young people and the care sector hard hit by the pandemic, the Care Team at the College threw all their energy into supporting both apprentices and employers. Being creative in the use of technology and giving apprentices one-to-one support are factors in the college's high engagement rates.
Supporting Net Zero Employer of the Year
Sponsored by
ACS (Advanced Clothing Solutions)
North Lanarkshire
Apprentices have already helped Advanced Clothing Solutions (ACS) improve its carbon footprint. This will be pivotal to the company achieving net zero by 2025.
As a company which has both planet and people at the top of its agenda, ACS provides apprentices the opportunity to learn new environmentally friendly production processes.
As the company grows, ACS envisage that there will be 40 more apprenticeship opportunities from 2022.
Supporting Net Zero Apprentice of the Year
Sponsored by
Viktoryia Parkhamovich and Ryan Matthews
Engineering, GE Aviation Caledonian
Modern Apprentice Viktoryia was raised in Cyprus before moving to Scotland. While on furlough last year, the 22-year-old was involved in the Fuel Change Challenge competition.
Meanwhile, Ryan started his Mechanical Engineering apprenticeship in August 2018. The 24-year-old won a competition to support tackling climate change.
Ayrshire College has supported Viktoryia and Matthew throughout their apprenticeships.
