The Fleet Commander presented awards to 14 finalists at the 2nd Annual Naval Service Apprenticeship Awards on Thursday 9th March.
The Naval Service Apprenticeships Awards aim to recognise the exceptional achievements of naval personnel who have successfully completed their apprenticeships, and supported and encouraged others to do the same.
Apprenticeships provide the foundation of the learning journey naval personnel embark upon on joining, and can be further built upon to gain additional qualifications and civilian recognition throughout their careers.
All RN Ratings and Royal Marines (other ranks) complete an Intermediate Apprenticeship as part of their initial training. The Naval Service (including the Royal Navy, Royal Marines and Royal Fleet Auxiliary) deliver around 2,500 apprenticeships every year and, together with the RAF and Army, is the largest employer of apprentices in the UK.
The finalists were drawn from a large number of entries across the Naval Service, with citations that gave evidence of their commitment, contribution and success.
The finalists had all made a notable impact in the workplace and on their colleagues, showing determination to gain the most from their training and inspiring other apprentices and colleagues to do the same.
Finalists were invited to the awards ceremony along with a member of their family and a representative from their unit. Held in Victory Building in Portsmouth Naval Base, the ceremony saw the presentation of 14 Apprenticeship Awards from seven categories.
Seven winners and seven highly commended individuals were selected from the following categories:
- Best Apprentice (Engineering) – Winner, ET(ME) Kerrigan; Highly Commended, ET(ME) Leagas & ET(WE) Rawlings.
- Best Apprentice (Logistics) - Winner, Chef Hollett.
- Best Apprentice (Public Services) – Winner, Marine Keogh; Highly Commended – Marine Jones.
- Best Apprentice (Warfare) – Winner – AB Robinson; Highly Commended, AB Bolton.
- Best Advanced Apprentice in Engineering – Winner, LET Gregory; Highly Commended, LET Sneddon & LET Vantomme.
- Apprentice Personal Achievement Award – Winner, AET Metcalfe.
- Apprenticeship Champion – Winner, AET Holt; Highly Commended, Leading Seaman McCrossen.
Commander Sarah Johns RN, SO1 Education and Apprenticeships, was the instigator of the event and announced the names of the winners, whilst the Fleet Commander presented each finalist with a Trophy, Certificate and voucher.
Cdr Johns said, “The RN is highly regarded for the excellent opportunities it gives to receive world class training and experience across a range of job roles in the form of Apprenticeships.
"The RN has been recognised several times as a deliverer and employer of Apprentices, but these Awards enabled us to celebrate and reward the achievements of outstanding individuals, some of whom will be put forward for the National Apprenticeship Awards.
"They also provided an opportunity to raise the awareness of Apprenticeships within the Service, and being presented by the Fleet Commander made the occasion extra special, inspiring the winners to greater things in their careers and emphasising the importance of professional and personal development in the Service.”
The winners in order of the aforementioned awards are; ET(ME) Kerrigan (HMS Ocean), Chef Hollett (HMS Westminster), Marine Keogh (40 Cdo), AB Robinson (HMS Richmond), LET(ME) Gregory (HMS Richmond), AET Metcalfe (849 Naval Air Sqn), AET Holt (824 Naval Air Sqn).
Vice Admiral Key then addressed the attendees with his closing words where he mentioned "the importance of apprenticeships in the development of our people and in recognising the valuable skills they gain through both formal naval training and within front line units where their skills are honed and developed.
"Our world-beating equipment is nothing without the talented, committed people of the Naval Service who go the extra mile themselves and support others to do the same.
"I am delighted to have been able to present awards to some of these exceptional men and women today."
