Apprenticeships

Max was nominated by his Training Coordinator, Tina Pattison, who said:

"Max has embraced his first full-time role exceptionally well, quickly establishing himself as a valued and respected member of the team. His positive attitude, willingness to learn, and ability to adapt have enabled him to make significant progress in a short period of time. Consistently professional, approachable, and supportive, he has earned praise from both his line manager and colleagues. Max's enthusiasm, adaptability, and determination make him an excellent role model and a highly deserving nominee."

Charley was nominated by Training Coordinator, Tina Pattison, who said:

“As Charley has grown in confidence, she has taken on the responsibility of coaching others in the workplace, helping them to develop and sharing best practice on what she has learnt in her time here. Charley has also developed plans for work experience students, supporting them during their brief stints at ELS. Work experience can be a daunting experience for a young individual, so Charley’s ability to help them settle in and make them feel welcome has been great to see.”

Diya was nominated by her Training Coordinator, Sheila Greenman, who said:

"Diya has demonstrated a strong work ethic throughout her apprenticeship. She is reliable, adaptable, and never afraid to step outside of her comfort zone to take on new challenges. A particular achievement has been her role as Duty Manager on Saturdays at the Oxfordshire Museum, where she has grown in confidence and capability.

What makes Diya stand out is not only her professionalism but also her kind and approachable nature. She is always willing to share her knowledge, support colleagues, and help others develop their skills. She is a positive team member who builds strong working relationships and contributes to a supportive working environment.

Diya's professionalism, calm approach, willingness to support others, and determination to embrace new opportunities make her a highly deserving recipient of Apprentice of the Month."

Alex was nominated by their Tutor, Sonja Milovic, who said:

"Alex has been our student apprentice for over 15 months and during this time he has been exceptional in all his interactions with the college staff, peers and colleagues in his workplace...

...Alex has grown into a confident, young horticulturist who can tell you all about his Ferns collection, listed orchards in his village, his project in his own garden which includes extending wildflower meadow to support biodiversity that he is passionate about, and much more. Alex’s values and respect for others are evident in his inspiring relationship with his family, who we had a pleasure of meeting in reviews, who got together to support Alex with learning plants’ Latin names, and much more."

Logan was nominated by their Training Coordinator, Adrian McIlroy Speed, who said:

"Logan started his apprenticeship at the age of 17, joining a class with a wide range of personalities and academic backgrounds. Despite being one of the youngest in the group, he approached the opportunity with determination and quickly developed his confidence.

When he did not pass an exam first time, he showed real resilience trusting his tutors’ belief in him and proving their confidence right with a successful retake. Since then Logan has flourished. His patient and eager attitude to learning means colleagues actively want to teach him. He listens carefully, applies feedback and remains genuinely appreciative of guidance.

He represents everything an apprentice should be and is a credit to himself and his team."

Riley was nominated by their Training Coordinator, Julia Silas, who said:

"I would like to nominate Riley for Apprentice of the Month in recognition of the significant progress he has made and the positive impact he now has within the team. Although Riley had a slightly rocky start, his line manager has seen massive improvements in both confidence and capability. Through hard work, perseverance, and a strong willingness to learn, Riley has developed into a reliable and valued member of the team.

Riley continues to progress well in the workplace, regularly stepping up when required and approaching tasks with a professional and positive attitude. He has recently achieved his Functional Skills Maths qualification and has recently passed his driving test, further demonstrating his commitment to personal development. Riley engages well with colleagues, responds positively to feedback, and applies learning effectively. His determination, growth, and contribution make him a deserving candidate for Apprentice of the Month."

Sonny was nominated by their Training Coordinator, Ellen George, who said:

"Sonny had a difficult start. He felt he might be on the wrong course and was concerned that college would be similar to school, where frustration and anger had often led him to walk away from challenges. With support, strategies, and determination, he gradually began to overcome these barriers...

When he started, Sonny told me, “I can’t do this, I’m useless, I never achieve anything.” Through hard work and a willingness to embrace support, he has grown in confidence and self-belief. He is now able to manage setbacks without allowing frustration or anger to define him.

Sonny is a fantastic example of how determination, resilience, and commitment can transform a person's outlook and achievements. He is set to achieve great things and would be a very deserving winner of this award."

Naomi was nominated by her Training Coordinator, Tina Pattison, who said:

"Naomi began her apprenticeship in early January and has already demonstrated exceptional growth, creativity, and commitment. Despite making a significant move to Oxford at the same time, she has immersed herself fully in both her role and the wider Oxford University community.

In her work, Naomi has produced outstanding creative content, including impactful materials for an LGBTQI+ campaign and a beautifully designed logo for International Women’s Day, accompanied by thoughtful and engaging content. Her creativity, professionalism, and attention to detail shine through in everything she produces. Naomi brings a consistently positive attitude to her team, offering support, enthusiasm, and fresh ideas.

Naomi’s dedication, creativity, and enthusiasm make her an outstanding apprentice, and she is truly deserving of recognition this month."

Finleigh was nominated by his Tutor, Paul Gadsby, who said:

“I would like to nominate Finleigh for Apprentice of the Month in recognition of his outstanding commitment, professionalism, and dedication to both his studies and his role as a Student Ambassador. Finleigh consistently demonstrates excellence in all areas of his college work, approaching learning with maturity, focus, and genuine enthusiasm.

He has a strong understanding of gas concepts and applies this knowledge confidently in both discussions and assessments. In practical sessions, he works safely and methodically, showing great attention to detail, strong technical ability, and a clear understanding of industry standards.

Finleigh is a dedicated, capable, and highly motivated apprentice who consistently goes above and beyond expectations.”

Tristan was nominated by his Curriculum Manager, Will Gibbs, who said:

“Tristan consistently demonstrates exceptional commitment to his apprenticeship, his college work, and the wider electrical industry. From the outset, he has shown a real determination to excel, approaching every task with a strong work ethic and genuine enthusiasm for developing his technical skills. His reliability, punctuality, and attention to detail make him a trusted member of the team, both on site and in the classroom.

At work, Tristan conducts himself with professionalism and maturity beyond his years, taking pride in completing jobs safely and to a high standard while actively seeking opportunities to learn from more experienced colleagues.

As an Apprenticeship Ambassador, Tristan also represents the College at school visits, careers fairs, and open evenings, confidently sharing his experiences and inspiring young people to consider electrical careers and the value of apprenticeships.”

Alice was nominated by their Assessor, Amanda Franklin, who said:

"Alice consistently demonstrates exceptional commitment and professionalism. Her work is always completed on time and to a very high standard. She is proactive in seeking developmental opportunities and embraces feedback positively, using it to improve and grow.

Alice works extremely well as part of a team and often takes on tasks independently with minimal support. She approaches every challenge with a positive attitude, even during difficult times, and nothing is ever too much trouble for her. She is adaptable to change and always willing to stretch beyond her comfort zone, tackling complex and demanding tasks with enthusiasm. It is a pleasure to meet with her and hear about the varied projects she has been working on.

Her resilience, eagerness to learn, and ability to deliver outstanding results make her a truly deserving apprentice for this recognition."

Elsa was nominated by their Training Coordinator, Adrian McIlroy Speed. who said:

"Elsa has a great attitude to her learning. She is always engaged, asking important questions, seeking information and trying to build her understanding of systems and processes. This is an exemplary attitude for an engineer and it is reflected in her results. She is consistently working ahead of target in all her Engineering areas. Elsa's interest in everything she was learning led to her really dig into the circuit design for a soldering practice assignment. In her workplace she is working at a terrific pace building practice pieces constructing a tool box and several tools for it. She has been learning the CAD software, Solidworks, and has made parts for university students."