The Cornwall Group won two awards at this year’s Truro and Penwith College’s Cornwall Apprenticeship Awards, and was ‘Highly Commended’ in a further seven.
Ned Seabourne, who was named Accountancy Apprentice of the Year, said: “I think apprenticeships are incredibly valuable to not only the company but mainly to the apprentice themselves,” he said. “I like the freedom of working during the week earning money (rather than being at college) and having the weekends to choose what to do. It also opens a lot more opportunities long term and short term.”
HR and Marketing Manager Emma Harris, who walked away with the Workplace Mentor of the Year award, said: “I’ve written offer letters for all of our nominees, printed their contracts, and seen their progress with each three-month review they have on our Apprentice journey, so it’s easy to appreciate the impact they’ve had in their companies,” Emma said. “Writing their nominations with their managers and MDs was an absolute pleasure, and having six selected as finalists for the Cornwall Apprenticeship Awards, I think shows the strength in our Apprenticeship journey and the positive effect it’s had on our companies.”
The group earned Highly Commended for Large Employer, Construction and Trade Occupations Apprentice; Brunel Bickerdike, Highly Commended Digital & IT; Josh Coopey, Digital & IT Apprentice; Maisie Simpson, Marketing Apprentice; Ruby Salmon, Engineering and Manufacturing Apprentice of the Year; Maisie Simpson, Apprentice Achiever.
About a fifth of all Cornwall Group employees – Cornwall Glass Manufacturing, Mackenzie Glass and Cornwall Glass & Glazing – joined via the apprenticeship programme, 95% of which have been with the group for 5+ years. Apprentices have gone on to become Supervisors, Technical Representative, Senior IT Technicians, Project Leaders, Assistant Managers, and even a Managing Director.
The eighth Cornwall Apprenticeship Awards were held at the Eden Project on Friday February 9th.
