This Monday the Microsoft Apprentice of the Year Awards were held at a reception in the Houses of Parliament, welcoming a number of Apprentice nominees as well as their respective businesses and training providers.
The main award for the 2013 Microsoft Apprentice of the Year was won by Jamie Sauvarin, who works at BrightStarr in Eashing. After being presented with his award by Mark Hoban (Minister of State for Employment) and Michel Van der Bel (CEO of Microsoft UK), Sauvarin said: “I have really enjoyed my time at BrightStarr so far and I am so happy to have won this award. My apprenticeship has made me even keener to work in IT and has given me a chance to get the skills I need to do that. I would like to say thank you to Microsoft, BrightStarr and Remit for giving me this opportunity.”
Meanwhile out of the 30,000 businesses from across the UK who were in the running for the Employer of the Year Award, it was deservedly won by Adatis Consulting, who I am extremely proud to be an Apprentice for.
As well as being a fantastic experience for myself and the other Apprentice nominees, it also gave us an incredible opportunity to speak one on one with key people from Microsoft, such as Michel Van der Bel and Hugh Milward as well as a number of Ministers, Training Providers and Potential Employers for the future.
Hugh Milward, director of corporate affairs at Microsoft, said: “There is a huge wealth of talent here in the UK and it is really important to celebrate the achievements of these apprentices, who have developed their skills and started an apprenticeship during tough economic times.”
“The great news is that these young people are now firmly on the career ladder; 93 per cent of Microsoft apprentices stay with our partner businesses and move into a fully qualified role. These awards recognise their hard work, determination and achievements so far, which will stand them in good stead for a successful career in IT and will help maintain the talent pipeline we have in the UK.”
Mark Hoban added: “This government is committed to ensuring our young people are given the best chance to get on in life – that is why we set up the Youth Contract: a scheme that will offer 500,000 opportunities to young people over three years. In order for the scheme to work we rely on businesses such as Microsoft opening their doors to aspirational young people; giving them the opportunity to gain the skills and training they need to get into work.”
“It’s great to be here today to celebrate the achievements of these apprentices at a very exciting time in their careers.”
The Microsoft apprenticeship programme is part of the company’s commitment to provide relevant training and skills to young people in the UK to help them get a leg-up in the workplace.
Microsoft partners with training providers Firebrand, Remit IT Academy, QA, and Baltic, plus 30,000 IT businesses across the UK. Through its Get On programme, a development from its BritainWorks initiative launched in 2009, the software giant is aiming to help 300,000 British 16 to 24-year olds into work by 2015.
List of winners
Apprentice of the Year
Winner: Jamie Sauvarin from BrightStarr ltd
Runner-up: Billie Eliott from Hull Trinity House Academy
Runner-up: Joshua from eCourier
Honourable mention: Charlotte from Chorus
IT Apprentice Employer of the Year
Winner: Adatis
Runner-up: Software ONE
Honourable mention: TSG
Honourable mention: Pyranet UK Ltd
More Photo’s to follow when the photographer releases them…
Below is a photo of myself and the other Apprentices from Firebrand before the awards ceremony, (From Left to Right) Sarah Armstrong, Dean Shorter, Emma Whiteley, Tom Davis, Harris Hasancevic and Sami Rahman.
Tech Apprentice. 