It was an absolute pleasure to attend the Management Training Plus Apprenticeship Awards 2025 at the end of October and quite overwhelming to have such a fantastic company representation at the awards, showcasing the individual talent and dedication of both our apprentices and those that support them.
We had 17 out of 34 nominations and I am delighted to advise that we won 4 out of the 5 awards, which were presented by the guest speaker at the event Alex Lovell, presenter for ITV:
Apprenticeship of the Year:
Each nominee was selected for recognition and has demonstrated outstanding achievement and excellence in their respective fields.
Dextra Nominees: Liela Sheppard, Shane Hann, Andy Dugdale
Winner: Liela Sheppard
Inspirational Apprentice:
Each nominee was selected for recognition and has demonstrated outstanding commitment to learning and overcoming challenges which has been inspirational.
Dextra Nominees: Cosmin Zagarin, Atanos Atanasov, Richard Paul, Amba Miles
Winner: Cosmin Zagarin
Safeguarding Award:
Each nominee was selected for recognition, having strongly demonstrated the principles of safeguarding which creates an environment where colleagues feel safe, supported and valued. This directly impacts the sense of wellbeing in others and supports their personal and professional development. Even without being a safeguarding professional, they proactively seek to deepen their understanding of safeguarding principles, relevant policies and best practices.
Dextra Nominees: Steve Russell
Winner: From another business
Special Award for Promotion of Apprenticeships:
Nominees were selected for recognition for the promotion of Apprenticeships as an essential tool for progression, development and innovation. All nominees have been recognised for promoting and supporting colleagues to take apprenticeships and promoted the use of apprenticeships through their employer. All have been effective ambassadors for apprenticeships, recognising the benefits which apprenticeships bring to individuals and the value which they bring to businesses as a whole.
Dextra Nominees: Shane Hann, Dave Mendham, Natasha Ward, Ben Chant, Neil Franks, Marc Doble, Jason Guiver, Jason Fermor
Winner: Dave Mendham
Employer of the Year:
Each nominee has demonstrated outstanding dedication to the development of people professionally and personally through apprenticeships.
Winner: Dextra Group
“Dextra Group is recognised for its outstanding dedication to internal talent progression. Their innovative decision to establish and successfully run an apprenticeship programme accessible to every colleague, regardless of their current role or tenure, showcases a profound belief in continuous development. By leveraging apprenticeships as a core strategy, they are empowering existing staff to acquire new qualifications, enhance their expertise and advance their careers, thereby enriching their workforce, boosting morale and cultivating a vibrant, learning-centric culture throughout the entire company.”
Congratulations to everyone nominated and to our winners.
