Stars of tomorrow

Apprentice of the Year 2019. The Mayor and Mayoress of Rotherham, Cllr Jenny Andrews (right) and Cllr Jeanett Mallinder (left) with Advertiser editor, Andrew Mosley and category winners (from left to right), Tom Roe, Advanced; Zeynah Khalil, Intermediate; Angela Lambert, Degree and Dawn White, Higher. 190849-23

THE stars of Rotherham’s future have been unveiled.

The Rotherham Apprentice of the Year 2019 Awards were held at the New York Stadium last Thursday night with four top performers taking the prizes.

Entries from new companies from across the borough were a strong feature of the competition — jointly run by the Rotherham Advertiser, the Rotherham Together Partnership and the Business Growth Board.

The event was hosted by Barnsley Rotherham Chamber president Lisa Pogson, with speeches from Julie Bloomer of AESSEAL, Diane Keay of Mears Group, RMBC chief executive Sharon Kemp, Advertiser editor Andrew Mosley and the paper’s advertising manager John Bottomley.

Prizes were presented by the Mayor and Mayoress of Rotherham, Cllrs Jenny Andrews and Jeanette Mallinder.

Advertiser editor Andrew said: “Apprenticeships get youngsters into work, puts them in real-life situations rather than imaginary scenarios, they develop in confidence, continue their education and earn while they learn. What’s not to like?”

Other shortlisted finalists were Intermediate: Laura Dungworth, Bethany Norris, Curtis Hope; Advanced: Safa Ali, Hannah Jones, Luke James, Emily Kerr, Lydia Jackson; Higher: Catherine Jay; Degree: Nathan Bailey, Lewis Massie.

Judges were Diane Keay, Julia Bloomer, John Bottomley, employment mentor Katrina Dunne, Martin Horst of Rainforest Graphics and Ian Goodall of Aardvard Swift.