Triumphant night for region’s businesses and apprentices at EBTAs

Showcasing the very best of business training across the South West, more than 150 business people celebrated the achievements of apprentices, individuals and businesses at a festival-style awards evening.

Held at Cornish Tipi Weddings, the Excellence in Business Training Awards 2019, hosted by CCB Training (Cornwall College Business) and supported by Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Local Enterprise Partnership (Clos LEP), “was an inspiring evening,” according to Simon Caklais, Board member of Clos LEP.

“We were delighted to be part of these celebrations, hearing the amazing stories of apprentices, individuals and businesses which reinforce our vision to achieve thriving businesses, growing and enriched workforce skills that improve infrastructure and economic distinctiveness in our region.”

The twelfth annual Excellence in Business Training Awards recognised exceptional training and development in organisations across the South West; celebrating those companies that develop their staff through training and as a result have seen exceptional business successes.

This year saw double winners RG Kellow, based in Redruth, proudly accept the Young Apprentice of the Year – Levi Mitchell and the Skills Apprentices of the Year (19+years old) – Ross Harvey.

“Levi’s maturity and talents have shone through in a historically male dominated environment,” commented the judge of the Young Apprentice of the Year Award, Toni Eyriey, Director at Business Cornwall.

Mark Peters, Managing Director, Pirate FM who judged the Skills Apprentice of the Year category said “Ross is clearly a very hardworking apprentice, who has built up his experience, skills and knowledge, progressing from a very shy apprentice to a skilled individual.”

The Rural Apprentice of the Year Award was won by a previous Bicton College and Duchy College Agriculture Business Management apprentice, Ben Edwards. Ben works at Begbeer Farm, Crediton for CH & RJ Jordan and Son.

The judge Mel Colton-Dyer from the Cornwall Chamber of Commerce said Ben has become “integral to the running of all aspects of the business improving its efficiency and bottom line, his contribution is invaluable”.

Falmouth Business Pendennis Shipyard, won the Outstanding Commitment to Apprenticeships Large Business award. Jenny Doble, chair of Penhalgon’s Friends presented the award on behalf of the judge Sharron Robbie from the Devon & Cornwall Training Providers Network who said it was “clear apprentices are integral to Pendennis’s company plans for the future”.

Elaine McMahon, Principal and Chief Executive of The Cornwall College Group, opened the evening and congratulated all nominees on their success.

“The standard of nominations this year was exceptional,” she said. “The winners deserve particular praise for being recognised as the best in their category. It’s been a wonderful night of entertainment and celebrations and I’ve been humbled to be part of it. Congratulations to all the finalists and to our winners tonight.”

Congratulations to the winners and runners-up that include:

Outstanding Commitment to Apprenticeships Small (1-50 employees)