The Oxfordshire Apprenticeship Awards recognised the best talent in the county with a special live streamed event on Thursday 6th May 2021.

The Apprenticeship Employer of the Year Award (250+ employees) was won by the University of Oxford. Ranked number one in the world in the 2021 Times Higher Education World Rankings, the University of Oxford is at the forefront of the full range of academic disciplines. As the oldest university in the English-speaking world, it has long traditions of scholarship, but is also forward-looking, creative and cutting-edge. Oxford is one of Europe's most entrepreneurial universities, ranking first in the UK for university spin-outs, with more than 130 companies created to date. They are also recognised as leaders in support for social enterprise.

The University is also an outstanding employer, currently employing around 150 Apprentices in a wide range of roles from Level 2 Horticulture & Arborist to Level 7 Senior Leader. The University provides exceptional support for Apprentices and pays them all the Oxford Living Wage. Over 80% of their Apprentices stay within the department into which they were recruited. 

The University also supports small local businesses and charities by transferring unused Apprenticeship Levy funds that can be used for Apprenticeship training, enabling them to recruit and train new employees or upskill existing members of their team.

The Apprenticeship Employer of the Year Award (250+ employees) award was kindly sponsored by electrical contractor and training specialist Clarkson Evans. Chief Operating Officer Lindsey Young said: “The University of Oxford stood out from a very strong field for the collaborative work they do to support smaller businesses and the charity community, actively seeking the opportunity to expand their involvement in apprenticeships outside their own organisation.”

In addition to winning the large employer award, the University of Oxford also celebrated the success of two of it's Apprentices - Apprentice Business Administrator Ellie Knight, who was Highly Commended in the Special Recognition Award and Apprentice Technician Scientist Emilia Reyes Pabon, who won both the Advanced Apprentice and Overall Apprentice of the Year Awards. 

Last year's Apprentice of the Year Award was also won by a University of Oxford Apprentice - Teya Agnese, an Apprentice Clinical Trial Support Officer - who went on to co-host this year’s awards, where she proudly handed her crown to Emilia. 

Senior Appointments and Apprenticeship Manager Helen Johnson said: "It was an absolute honour to accept the award for Apprentice Employer of the Year Award (250+) at the Oxfordshire Apprenticeship Awards 2021. We have been working hard to support the local community through transferring our apprenticeship levy and will continue to commit to this going forward. On behalf of the Apprenticeship team, I would like to thank our apprentices and apprentice line managers, mentors and training providers for their hard work and engagement. Winning this award is a true reflection of all of our commitment to the programme."

See our article for details of all the winning and highly commended entrants.

Join the conversation

Join us for Oxfordshire Apprenticeships Hour (#OAHour) on Twitter @OxonApprentice from 1pm every Thursday for latest on the Awards and join in the conversation using the hashtag #OAAwards2021.

Pictured L-R are Ellie Knight, Helen Johnson and Emilia Eyes Pabon.