Young Apprentice in Sport wins at the Apprenticeship Awards

SkillsActive - 11/07/2008

16 year old Luke Power has won the prestigious Young Apprentice of the Year at the annual national Apprenticeship Awards.

Now in their fifth year, the Learning and Skills Council’s Apprenticeship Awards are designed to recognise employers who are successfully using Apprenticeships to improve business performance and the key role apprentices play in today’s business world, spanning the breadth of the economy from accountancy, engineering, sports management and veterinary nursing.

Luke undertook his Young Apprenticeship in Sports Management, Leadership and Coaching at Eltham Green Specialist Sports College. He was diagnosed with dyslexia as a child and struggled with reading and writing throughout his youth, but thanks to embarking on a Young Apprenticeship, Luke gained the confidence and skills to help him overcome his difficulties and succeed both on the job and in the classroom.

Luke says: “Thanks to my Young Apprenticeship, I feel I can handle any challenge that comes my way.

“As I’ve grown older, my interest has become more focused on the world of sport, from physiotherapy to sports psychology and nutrition in sport. I began to use my determination and thirst for success to improve my performance, and the Young Apprenticeship Programme boosted my efforts tremendously.”

The four apprentice award categories seek to celebrate apprentices’ commitment to developing their skills and experience through Apprenticeships. Apprentices were judged on criteria that include their commitment to training, the range and diversity of their experience in their chosen field, their achievements within the workplace and demonstration of the way Apprenticeships have benefited their lives.

Speaking at the event, Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills, John Denham urged the nation to get behind Apprenticeships:

“Over the past decade we have more than doubled the number of young people and adults starting Apprenticeships, spanning the breadth of our economy from accountancy to engineering, construction to veterinary nursing.

“But we plan to do more. In the next decade all qualified school leavers will have the right to an apprenticeship. It will become a typical choice for young people and adults – at the same time ensuring that businesses get the vital skills they need.

“Apprenticeships are at the heart of the country’s economy. They unlock England’s talent and are the key to our future prosperity.

“I congratulate every employer and apprentice who has taken part in these awards. They are testament to what can be achieved by putting skills centre stage.  Their determination is exemplary and should act as an inspiration to anyone who wants to learn new skills and not only increase their own prospects, but those of the economy as well.”

Stephen Gardner, Director of Apprenticeships, Learning and Skills Council says:

“The commitment and foresight of all these exceptional employers is tremendous, not only in improving their business performance but also in giving talented people the opportunity to achieve their goals.

“If our businesses are to compete in a global market, we must address skills shortages at home.  The Apprenticeship Awards truly celebrate the range and depth of skill, enthusiasm and dedication across so many industries.  These Awards make plain the contribution that UK businesses are making to raise skills levels and improve productivity and competitiveness nationally. The quality of entries for this year’s Awards was astounding and not only these excellent winners, but all the finalists deserve to be recognised for making it through to this stage. ”

This year’s Awards attracted a record number of entries, with almost 1,400 individuals and companies all over England vying to be named Apprentice or Employer of the Year at this evening’s ceremony.

For more information on the Young Apprenticeship click here, or find out more about apprenticeships in general here.