Doncaster College Apprentice Awards

Some of the recipients of Awards, from left to right: Large employer of the Year winner UK Coal Mining Ltd represented by Richard Webster; Advanced Apprentice winner Terri-Ann Westerman; Personal Achiever winner Andrew Theaker; Small Employer of the Year winner Rocket Powered, represented by James Ashford; Intermediate Apprentice winner Kathryn Downes; and Intermediate Apprentice runner up Danielle Taylor.

Apprentices have been rewarded for their achievements at the Doncaster College Apprenticeship Awards, held at the College's Waterfront Restaurant.

Each award winner received a certificate and trophy in front of family, friends and work colleagues. The celebration included a buffet, prepared and served by Doncaster College catering and hospitality students.

The awards are designed to acknowledge and celebrate apprentices’ exceptional contributions to their workplace. All entries were judged and measured against criteria around achievement and good progress in learning, commitment to their own personal development, and producing work beyond expectations. Inspirational and enterprising qualities were also required in order to gain the awards.

Terri-Ann Westerman receives the Advanced Apprentice Award from Simon Taylor, UK Coal, Surface Mines Director

Terri-Ann Westerman was named Advanced Apprentice of the Year 2011.

Terri-Ann, of Skellow in Doncaster, is a mother of three and works for UK Coal, repairing and maintaining diggers and excavators at their Harworth base.

UK Coal regard Terri-Ann very highly and she just keeps on winning awards. Recently she won the Advanced Apprentice of the Year award at the Proskills awards ceremony, which was held at the popular UK theme park Alton Towers.

In 2009, Terri also won The Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining Technician Of The Year for her outstanding performance during her course.

Andrew Theaker, 28, won the Personal Achiever of the Year. Andrew, who works for Amanda Lee Retail Ltd, has had to overcome a number of substantial difficulties in his personal life and which could have easily prevented him from pursuing his career goals.

UK Coal Mining Ltd won the Large Employer of the Year award. This award acknowledged and celebrated the employer’s commitment to developing their workforce through Apprenticeships and UK Coal’s commitment to training is outstanding.

They have supported their apprentices with extra curriculum activities, for example when a student has been struggling, they have set up extra classroom time (in their training school) to help them get back on track.

They have also supported students by arranging continual in-house product training.

Doncaster College works with more than 300 different employers across South Yorkshire including UK Coal, Doncaster Council, Wabtec, Doncaster Rovers, Doncaster Chamber and Rotherham Council.

Last year, the College dealt with over 500 employed apprentices across a whole range of occupational areas including engineering, motor vehicle, construction, hairdressing, business administration and accountancy

The Award winners were as follows:

• Large Employer of the Year winner, UK Coal Mining Ltd represented by Richard Webster
• Advanced Apprentice winner, Terri-Ann Westerman
• Advanced Apprentice runner up, Gemma Cocksedge
• Personal Achiever winner, Andrew Theaker
• Small Employer of the Year winner, Rocket Powered represented by James Ashford
• Intermediate Apprentice winner, Kathryn Downes
• Intermediate Apprentice runner up, Danielle Taylor

This years awards were sponsored by Atteys Solicitors, Doran Scott Williams, UK Coal Mining Ltd, Hair & Beauty Co., Doncaster Chamber of Commerce, and The Stables Restaurant.

As part of Apprenticeship Week 2012, which runs from 6th to 10th of February, Doncaster College is hosting events aimed at both employers and applicants for places. See this page for details of planned events.

Updated: 02/02/2012