On Friday 13th February, we proudly brought our National Apprenticeship Week 2026 celebrations to a close with DBC’s annual Apprenticeship Awards 2026. A special event dedicated to recognising the exceptional achievements of our apprentices and employer partners over the past year.

Each year, our Apprenticeship Awards highlight individuals who have demonstrated outstanding commitment, growth and excellence throughout their apprenticeship journey. We also celebrate the employers who champion apprenticeships within their organisations, providing invaluable support, mentorship and opportunities that enable apprentices to thrive.

We were delighted to welcome a guest speaker, Felicity Goodsell, Head of Learning & Development at St Mary’s University, Twickenham, who shared powerful insights into the transformative impact of apprenticeships, from developing future talent pipelines to strengthening organisations and driving sustainable growth. Their reflections reinforced the vital role apprenticeships continue to play across industries.

We were also thrilled that, thanks to our guests and raffle prize donations from Parity Legal, Coyne Recruitment Group, and Derby County Football Club, we raised over £400 for the Ricky Hatton Foundation. supporting vital mental health awareness.

The award winners include:

Business Administration Apprentice of the Year: Anastasiia Kononchuk – ScanTech Offshore

Customer Service Apprentice of the Year: Clare Madden – Department for Education

Coaching Professional Apprentice of the Year: Swarsha Bhalla – Leicester City Council

HR Apprentice of the Year: Olivia Hunt – Newcastle City Council

Leadership & Management Apprentice of the Year: Jenny Palmer – East Riding of Yorkshire Council

Marketing Apprentice of the Year: Charlie White – Global Brands

Sales & Recruitment Apprentice of the Year: Cara DeCoza – Autotrader

Supply Chain & Logistics Apprentice of the Year: Tejie Needham – DHL

Public Sector Employer of the Year: London Borough of Waltham Forest

Mentor of the Year: Gavin Smith – Autotrader

New Apprenticeship Programme of the Year – BCN Group

Apprenticeship Ambassador of the Year: Joanna Shipley – Wolseley

Small Employer of the Year: Fleetmaxx Solutions

Large Employer of the Year: Office for Nuclear Regulation

Apprentice of the Year: Anastasiia Kononchuk – ScanTech Offshore

Finalists were selected from the hundreds of apprentices and employers we proudly work with, making it a remarkable accomplishment to be shortlisted. Every finalist should feel incredibly proud of their achievement, with all highly commended for their dedication and success.

Congratulations to all of our 2026 finalists and winners, your hard work, passion and commitment truly embody the spirit of National Apprenticeship Week.