Apprentices, adult learners and employers from across theNorth Westhad cause for celebration when they attended the 24th Annual Alliance Learning Awards Evening on Tuesday 21st June.

The awards ceremony, which recognises and rewards the hard work and commitment of learners and the businesses that support them, was this year held at Alliance Learning’s Head Office in Horwich.

The awards were attended by members of the Board of Trustees, the Mayoress of Bolton, representatives from Bolton Hospice, event sponsors MBDA UK Ltd and local businesses as well as the learners and their families.

Alliance Learning Chair of Trustees, Diana Morton, hosted the ceremony this year and Chief Executive Julie Robinson presented the awards within each of the 16 categories on the night.

The highlight of the awards evening is the much coveted ‘Apprentice of the Year 2016’ award, which recognises the person who has shown exceptional commitment to their training programme throughout 2015/16.

This year the award was presented to Neal James Wareing from Kerax Ltd.

During the ceremony Neal was described as “Both enthusiastic and inquisitive. Neal’s employers tell us that the quality and quantity of his work as that of a time served individual. While completing his apprenticeship Neal came up with an idea for production that saved his company money, extended the life expectancy of products and changed the way a process was done for the first time in 30 years. Quite an achievement – this young man is destined for big things to come.”

Other worthy winners on the night included:

Business Administration Apprentice Award

Awarded to Shannon Leeson from Rutronik UK Ltd.

Childcare Apprentice Award

Awarded to Nicola Brett from First Steps Nursery.

Health and Social Care Apprentice Award

Awarded to Alex Clare from Creative Support.

Electrical Engineering Award

Awarded to Neal James Wareing from Kerax Ltd.

Mechanical Engineering Apprentice Award

Awarded to Michael Smith from MovetechUK.

Fabrication and Welding Award

Awarded to Shaun Jones from Systems Power.

Technical Engineering Apprentice Award

Awarded to Elizabeth Podda  from Krones UK Ltd.

Dental Nursing Apprenticeship Award

Awarded to Jessica Adamson from Bryn Dental Practice.

E-Learning Award

Awarded to Amanda Buckley

Community Award

Awarded to Mark Smith from Alliance Learning for his fundraising efforts for the ‘Help Finley get on his Feet Fund’

Progression Award

Awarded to Craig Davenport from Transport Training Academy

Alliance Learning Company Award for Training and Development

Awarded to MBDA UK Ltd for their outstanding commitment to training and development

Outstanding Contribution to Apprenticeships

Gareth Humphreys MBE

Alliance Learning Employee of the Year Award

Awarded to Stephen Low

Speaking at the end of the night, Chief Executive of Alliance Learning, Julie Robinson, concluded:

“It has been a truly fantastic year for the 50th anniversary of our organisation – we have received many awards including SME of the Year forBoltonand Bury, made the finals of two further award ceremonies and gained Investors in People Gold accreditation. We were successfully re-accredited for The Matrix Standard for IAG and held some of our biggest events in the history of the organisation.

“Thank you to everyone who has supported us – our Board of Trustees, the businesses we work with and the learners we support through their training.  I’d also like to thank all this evening’s winners for their hard work. Without them this evening would not be possible.”