Nominations for the 2027 Herefordshire Apprenticeship Awards close at noon on 27 November. Three categories are new, and winners are named on 9 February.
Nominations are open for the 2027 Herefordshire Apprenticeship Awards, and they close at 12 noon on Friday 27 November. Apprentices can put themselves forward. Employers and training providers can also nominate on their behalf.
The awards are led by Herefordshire Growth Hub with Herefordshire Council and three training organisations. The council announced the 2027 round on 3 November, after a launch event at The Beefy Boys in Hereford.
Winners will be named at a ceremony on Tuesday 9 February 2027, during National Apprenticeship Week. The venue has not been announced.
What you can be nominated for
There are three main awards, each split into smaller categories. Up to three finalists will be shortlisted in each, according to the awards page.
| Award | Categories | Who can enter |
|---|---|---|
| Apprentice of the Year | Intermediate (level 2), advanced (level 3), higher (level 4 or 5) and degree (level 6 and above) | An apprentice who lives in Herefordshire and finished their apprenticeship since 1 July 2025 |
| Apprentice Employer of the Year | Micro (1 to 9 staff), small (10 to 49) and large (50 or more) | A business registered or trading in Herefordshire with an apprentice who completed since July 2025 |
| Mentor of the Year | Employer Mentor of the Year, and Apprenticeship Tutor/Assessor of the Year | A workplace mentor, tutor, assessor or coach supporting Herefordshire apprentices |
The judges also pick two awards from all the apprentice entries, with no separate form: an Apprentice Impact Award and an Inspirational Apprentice of the Year.
What is new for 2027
The council lists three new categories this year:
- New Apprenticeship Employer of the Year, for an organisation that started taking on apprentices in the last two years
- Future Skills Apprenticeship Award, for an organisation with strong apprenticeship results in priority sectors: digital, defence and cyber security, advanced manufacturing and engineering, green technologies, creative industries and health innovation
- Employer Mentor of the Year, for a workplace mentor who supports apprentices day to day
Last year’s winners
The 2026 ceremony was held on 10 February at The Yard, Hereford. The winners list includes:
- overall Apprentice of the Year: Archie Ellis, HR Smith Group
- Employer of the Year, large business: Wye Valley NHS Trust
- Employer of the Year, small business: Environmental Management Solutions
- Mentor of the Year: Shaun Farrell, 2 Counties Construction
Archie Ellis spoke at this year’s launch. “I was a bit unsure when I first started my apprenticeship but took the decision to fully commit to it and that hard work really paid off, not least with the award,” he said. “My message to any young person considering the apprenticeship route is to just go for it, I have loved it.”
Councillor Graham Biggs, the council’s cabinet member for economy and growth, said apprenticeships let people “earn while you learn”. He said more firms taking on apprentices was “one of the ways to create more better paid jobs”.
What it means for you
If you finished an apprenticeship since July 2025, or you employ or mentor someone who did, you have three weeks to enter.
- Deadline: 12 noon, Friday 27 November 2026. Late entries will not be accepted.
- How: each award has its own online form, linked from its page on the council’s awards site.
- What to include: the awards pages ask for evidence, such as quotes from customers or colleagues, figures and performance reviews.
- Questions or sponsorship: email apprenticeshipawards@herefordshire.gov.uk.
The other organisations behind the awards are Herefordshire, Ludlow and North Shropshire College, Herefordshire and Worcestershire Group Training Association and Riverside Training.
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