APPRENTICES celebrated at a special graduation ceremony held at Warwick Racecourse.
The apprentices were joined by family, friends, tutors and employers after completing their apprenticeships with college group WCG (formerly Warwickshire College Group).
More than 60 apprentices graduated at the eighth apprenticeship graduation event hosted by WCG.
The college group is made up of six colleges, including Royal Leamington Spa, Warwick Trident and Moreton Morrell.
Radio presenter Dave Sharpe was the master of ceremonies, with guests hearing from keynote speaker Louise Bennett, chief executive of Coventry & Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce.
WCG CEO Angela Joyce also spoke with the apprentices as part of the event, and was joined on stage by Louise Bennett to present the apprentices with their graduation scrolls.
Apprentices graduating are embarking on careers in a wide range of sectors, from engineering and horticulture, to marketing and dental nursing.
Ms Joyce said: “We believe in formally celebrating success at every level of education and we are proud to train more than 2,000 apprentices each year for more than 1,100 employers.
“After two years away, it was great to be back in-person to celebrate our apprentices.
“The Skills Act has highlighted the importance of skill-based learning and nine out of 10 employers say apprentices boost productivity. WCG is a pioneer of employer centred education, which led to us receiving the Queen’s Anniversary Prize for Higher and Further Education in 2021.
“Apprenticeships are the best and most effective way to bring skilled talent into the workforce.
“Congratulations to all of our graduating apprentices this year and we wish them all the best as they move forward in their careers.”
Three apprentices were given special prizes on the evening in recognition of their high performance and excellence achieved during their apprenticeship.
Megan Lewis, 26, who studied at Warwick Trident College, was named as the Outstanding Apprentice for Engineering after she completed her degree apprenticeship in Electrical/Electronic Engineering with Jaguar Land Rover.
Outstanding Apprentice for Land-based, Motor Vehicle and Construction went to Jake Summers, a 20-year-old Land Based Engineering Technician who completed his apprenticeship with Chandlers Farm Equipment in Lutterworth. He studied at Moreton Morrell College.
And Rossi Salvatore, 22, who studied at Royal Leamington Spa College, was presented with the prize for Outstanding Apprentice for Service Industries. He has completed a Chartered Institute of Marketing Level 3 Marketing Assistant apprenticeship with Karcher.
Apprentices celebrating at graduation event.
Angela Joyce (left), Jake Summers (Outstanding Apprentice for Land-based, Motor Vehicle and Construction) and Louise Bennett.
Megan Lewis (Outstanding Apprentice for Engineering) with Angela Joyce and Louise Bennett.
Rossi Salvatore (Outstanding Apprentice for Service Industries) with Angela Joyce and Louise Bennett.
