Shortlist announced and public vote opens for the 2025 Cornwall Apprenticeship Awards

Cornwall’s very best apprentices, employers and mentors have been announced with the publication of the 2025 Cornwall Apprenticeship Awards shortlist.

The shortlist announcement comes after Truro and Penwith College’s ninth annual Awards received the highest-ever tally of nominations, with more than 140 received across the 18 categories.

The ever-popular public vote for the Achiever of the Year category returns, providing members of the public with the opportunity to vote for their winner of the category that recognises learners who have overcome a personal challenge or adversity.

Having outgrown its traditional college venue in 2024, the ninth annual Awards is set to return to the Eden Project on Friday, 7 February, hosted by Truro and Penwith College, supported by Hertzian, with Award Partners Duchy Hospital, Wildanet, Watson-Marlow, Media Partners Business Cornwall, Reception Sponsors CORMAC and a host of local and national sponsors.

There were 49 nominees from Colleges and training providers across Cornwall shortlisted in 18 categories for the Awards evening, including brand-new Nursing & Clinical and Healthcare & Early Years categories.

The new categories join the highly popular Academic Mentor and Workplace Mentor of the Year categories added in 2024 to recognise those who offer apprentices exceptional levels of support to achieve strong starts to their future careers.

The Awards ceremony will be presented by Neil and Saffy from Hits Radio Cornwall’s Breakfast Show on Friday 07 February.

The full shortlist is available at www.truro-penwith.ac.uk/caa.

The Achiever of the Year category awards an apprentice who has overcome personal challenge or adversity to successfully complete their apprenticeship training and make valuable contributions to their employer.

The inspirational stories of the 2025 Achiever of the Year nominees; Cheryl Wright, Toby Phillips and Piers Smith can be found at; www.truro-penwith.ac.uk/cornwall-apprenticeship-awards/public-vote/ where members of the public can vote for their winner – voting closes on 20 November.

Twenty local and national organisations have come out in force to support the 2025 Awards and the positive impact apprenticeships are having on learners, businesses and communities.

Experts from these sponsors will make up the judging panel, with sponsors ineligible to judge any categories where their employees have been nominated.

Martin Tucker, Principal at Truro and Penwith College, said: “We are delighted to announce the shortlist for the ninth annual Cornwall Apprenticeship Awards. The College is incredibly proud of the Awards and the high regard in which it is held by employers and learners across the county.

“For apprenticeships to deliver economically they need to be of the highest quality. The Awards presents a perfect opportunity to recognise that quality and we look forward to a very enjoyable evening celebrating all the talent that exists across the apprenticeship provision in the county on 07 February."

Anyone seeking advice on apprenticeship training programmes, or for opportunities to get involved in the Cornwall Apprenticeship Awards should contact the Truro and Penwith College Apprenticeship team on 01872 305500 or email [email protected].

For more information about the 2025 Cornwall Apprenticeship Awards visit www.truro-penwith.ac.uk/caa.