Johnston Press titles including The Derbyshire Times, The Star and the Sheffield Telegraph want to shout about the best in on-the-job training, and this year they are running the first ever NMSY Apprenticeship Awards.

These awards celebrate and recognise the hardworking individuals and organisations involved in apprenticeships and how they shape our future.

As a Johnston Press event, their winners will be announced in 5 of their titles reaching nearly 1 million readers in print and online a month.

They have had plenty of entries across a variety of categories, but are keen to hear from more businesses and individuals.

The deadline to enter has been extended to midnight on Wednesday, April 5. They are particularly keen for entries in the small and medium employer and mentor categories.

Visit nmsyapprenticeshipawards.com for full details and a list of categories, or get in touch with our events manager Haroldine Lockwood on 07803 505658 or haroldine.lockwood@jpress.co.uk.

A Chesterfield apprentice has become the first female apprentice to win the Apprentice of the Year’ award supported by Boeing at the Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) Training Centre’s ‘Apprentice of the Year’ awards held at the University of Sheffield (30 March).

Leigh Worsdale (18) from Ashgate, works as an apprentice Heavy Duty Diesel Engine Builder for Foxwood Diesel, based in Whittington in Chesterfield. As well as winning the overall Apprentice of the Year title, Leigh also won the First Year Apprentice of the Year award. As part of her win, Leigh will visit Boeing’s factory in Washington State, outside Seattle, to see first-hand how the global aerospace company designs, tests and builds its 737 aircraft.

The Apprentice of the Year award, which is supported by Boeing, uses nominations from apprentice employers and trainers and is judged by a panel of members of the AMRC Training Centre staff and award sponsors.

Judges were ‘overwhelmingly’ impressed by Leigh’s confidence and spoke about how she continuously seeks ways to improve her workplace and its processes. Leigh has been responsible for introducing a number of incentives at Foxwood Diesel that have helped to improve the business.

Speaking at about her Apprentice of the Year award win, Leigh said: “I was shocked to win as there was such strong competition, but it’s amazing and I am over the moon. It feels great to have my work recognised by people in the industry outside Foxwood Diesel. It was an amazing feeling to hear my name called on night and I can’t believe that I am going to Boeing’s factory in America. I am really interested in aeroplanes so am looking forward to the visit and particularly to the Boeing museum.”

Foxwood Diesel Managing Director, Ken Worsdale said she was ‘enthusiastic, dedicated to the company and well in advance of her training plan.’

Leigh, a former Brookfield Community School student applied for an apprenticeship after her GCSEs because she wanted to gain experience while getting paid. She was inspired by the facilities at the AMRC Training Centre after attending one of the centre’s open days with her school.

Leigh will complete her apprenticeship this summer and hopes to go on and do a Level 4 Apprenticeship. She added: “I love what I do and really enjoy working in the industry. It is very hands on and the engine building aspect means you can get really involved.”

She was awarded an apprenticeship under the Close Brothers SME Apprentice Programme, which contributes to the cost of apprentices to help SMEs recruit and train a new generation of advanced engineers.

Leigh said her highlights from the Training Centre were meeting new people with the same interests and learning about maintenance and the tech support in engineering.

Find out more about apprenticeships in Chesterfield