The very best of London’s employers and young talent was recognised yesterday at the Apprenticeship and Skills Awards, held at Copthorne Tara Hotel in London.
Apprentices, T Level students, skills champions and employers from across the region were among the finalists celebrated at the event.
Now in its 23rd year, the Apprenticeship and Skills Awards celebrate entrants from across England who have gone above and beyond, transforming their own careers and the organisations they work for.
Leading businesses, including BAE Systems and IBM, as well as providers, were celebrated for their outstanding recruitment practices, high-quality training, diversity and inclusion, and clear pathways for career progression.
Minister for Skills, Jacqui Smith said:
“All those nominated – from the apprentices to the employers and training providers – have shown that success comes from opening doors and creating real opportunity.
“We’re making the system more responsive to what young people and businesses need, backing this up with 50,000 new apprenticeships for young people and a wider drive to get more young people earning and learning.
“I want to congratulate every winner and finalist in London and wish them the very best at the National Final.”
Shahida Begum, a Software Development Apprentice at Transport for London said:
“I’m absolutely over the moon to have won The British Army Higher Apprentice of the Year Award. It means so much to me because my apprenticeship has completely transformed my confidence. It has helped me grow from being too nervous to present in meetings to leading Transport for London’s early careers partnership with Microsoft. I have gained the self-belief to enter and win hackathons, and to found the Node Foundation which prepares young women interested in tech and AI for apprenticeships in the industry. I hope my story can show other young people that an apprenticeship can open doors they never thought possible.”
Amy Packer, Social Value Manager at Arc Group London said:
“We’re really honoured to have won the OAL SME Apprenticeship Employer of the Year Award. Apprenticeships are at the heart of our business, helping us develop skilled professionals and future leaders while creating long-term careers across Arc Group London. By investing in structured training, mentoring and real opportunities to progress, we are building and retaining the talent our industry needs. We’re particularly proud to see many of our apprentices progress into senior operational and technical roles, demonstrating the lasting impact of our programme. This award is a fantastic recognition of our commitment to developing the next generation of construction professionals and supporting the future growth of our business.”
Each regional winner will now go on to represent London at the National Final, taking place in London on 26 November 2026, where they will compete against the best apprentices, T Level students, skills champions and employers from across England.
