Smart Annual Awards Update

February 04 2010

The awards ceremony was as expected a great success and following the event we are submitting this press release:
Wednesday the 3rd February 2010 marked the sixth anniversary of the Smart Training Annual Awards, held at the Quay Arts Centre with many guests from Industry on the Island in attendance, the awards being presented by the High Sheriff Gay Edwards.

Awards were presented in a number of ‘Learner’ categories as well as Employer of the Year and an overall ‘Learner of the Year’.

Jan Hopkinson the Managing Director and Gill Rogers the Business Development Manager of Smart Training were pleased to announce that 2009 had been a rewarding and successful year, in spite of the constraints of the economy. Particular note was that the level of achievement experienced was higher than ever, which made the final selection of the award winners, from an extended list of nominees, a task in itself.

Gill said “With this higher level of achievement, particularly as our awards took place during National Apprenticeship Week, we have great expectations for 2010, which has already started at a healthy pace. Apprenticeships today cover almost 200 different job profiles – gone are the days when apprenticeships only related to the likes of engineering, we now have a tremendously diverse skill set and requirements for progressive qualifications particularly for the first time employee. We have gained first class credentials across all academic subjects and particularly hospitality and commerce on the Island”.

The National Apprentice Service (NAS) have already received hundreds of thousands of applications from Learners wishing to enter employment under an Apprentice Umbrella Framework. Now for the challenge, of matching would-be Apprentices with employment!

Smart Training, through their network of offices, covering the main body of England, will be recruiting employers willing to make a position available for a new apprentice or perhaps where a 16 – 24 year old would-be apprentice is already en-situ. Jan said “Smart Training welcomes all enquiries from both sides of employment. As our relationship with employers is key to the success we achieve with each Learner we will be pleased to go into greater detail about what is involved and the benefits that can be obtained”.

The winners of the Smart Isle of Wight awards were:
Performance in People – Apprentice Employer of the Year.
Betapak – Train to Gain Employer of the Year.
Mojacs Restaurant – Mark Baldwin – Certificate of Recognition
Trouville Hotel – Helen Bond – Certificate of Innovation.
Charlie Panayi – Performance in People – Overall Learner of the Year.
Charlie Panayi – Performance in People -Apprentice of the Year Level 2 Commerce.
Sadie Pearce – Carisbrooke High School – Smart Young Apprentice of the Year.
Charlie Riley – Pier View Hotel – Apprentice of the Year Level 2 Hospitality.
Teresa Pitman – Grace’s Bakery – Train to Gain Learner of the Year Level 2 Commerce.
Ryan Kinneavy – The Spyglass/ Met Bar – Train to Gain Learner of the Year Level 2 Hospitality.
Amy Long – IOW Council – Apprentice of the Year Level 3 Commerce.
Josh Hammond – Mojacs Restaurant – Apprentice of the Year Level 3 Hospitality.
Andrew King – Train to Gain Learner of the Year Level 3

Photos of the day can be found here: 2010 Award Photos

County Press Article can be found here: 2010 County Press Article

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