Rising stars recognised at Dorset Apprenticeship Awards

Dorset Chamber | Press Release • May 16, 2025

Rising stars recognised at Dorset Apprenticeship Awards

Winners were hailed for their ‘inspirational achievements’ when the Dorset Apprenticeship Awards were announced.


They claimed honours in five categories at a ceremony with dignitaries, organisers, guests, employers, and education and training providers.


Dorset Chamber and Dorset and Somerset Training Provider Network (DSTPN) held the annual celebration of success with sponsorship from manufacturing firm Superior.


The winners were: 


  • Supported Internship Award: Alfie Blake - BCP Council/SWRAC
  • Intermediate Apprenticeship Award: Morgan Simpson - Nusura Thai Fire Kitchen/Bournemouth and Poole College
  • Advanced Apprenticeship Award: Jack Lant - Poole Accident Repair/RWC Training and Skillnet
  • Higher Level Apprenticeship Award: Aleasha Ellis - Bluebird Care/t2 group
  • Degree Level Apprenticeship Award: Sarah Matthias - University Hospitals Dorset/Bournemouth University


The ceremony was held at manufacturing business and longstanding awards sponsor Superior in Ferndown.


Former apprentice and upholstery expert from television programme The Repair Shop Sonnaz Nooranvary presented the awards and shared her own experience about becoming an apprentice at 17.


She urged employers to support this valuable training route. She was accompanied by fellow presenters Dorset Chamber chief executive Ian Girling, Superior managing director Tim Brown MBE, Richard Jenkins of Dorset and Somerset Training Provider Network (DSTPN), Cllr Mike Cox, deputy leader of BCP Council, and Cllr Nick Ireland, leader of Dorset Council.


Dorset Chamber chief executive Ian Girling said: “Congratulations to all of our very worthy winners.


“They impressed the judges with their inspirational achievements in a field of incredibly strong entries that demonstrates the great depth of talent we have among our apprentices in Dorset.


“The ceremony was a fitting celebration of all of our apprentices and their employers who recognise the value of nurturing the next generation and giving them opportunities to progress their careers.


“My thanks go to everyone who entered, judges, sponsors, employers, training providers and all who contributed to the success of this year’s awards.”


Dorset Chamber, the county’s voice of business, has been organising the apprenticeship awards since 2022.


Founded in 1949, is the only chamber in the county accredited to the British Chambers of Commerce.


Ranked as the leading chamber nationally with 120 five-star reviews on Google, the chamber has a vision for ‘a vibrant and prosperous Dorset business community that enhances the quality of life for all’.


Visit https://dorsetchamber.co.uk/dorset-apprenticeship-awards-2025/ for more details.


For more details on skills and training development follow @Dorset Skills on LinkedIn.


WINNERS:


Supported Internship winner Alfie Blake is with South West Regional Assessment Centre (SWRAC) and is employed as a ceremony usher at BCP Council. He has visited schools to talk about SEND support, attended Parliament with the Youth Advisory Group and raised awareness of supported internships.

 

Intermediate Apprenticeship Award winner Morgan Simpson works at Nusura Thai Fire Kitchen restaurant in Poole. His supervisor says that Morgan is always eager to learn management duties and customers frequently comment on his excellent customer service skills.

 

Advanced Apprenticeship Award winner Jack Lant is a paint technician apprentice who has a TikTok channel to showcase his work and inspire people. His manager said Jack ‘never fails to impress and shows huge commitment’.


Higher Level Apprenticeship Award winner Aleasha Ellis is a registered manager for domiciliary care company Bluebird Care in Chickerell, near Weymouth. Her manager says Aleasha has shown outstanding commitment and great determination.


Degree Level Apprenticeship Award Sarah Matthias is the service lead for bariatric surgery and recently completed her apprenticeship for Advanced Clinical Practitioner, specialising in dietetics. Sarah says that the apprenticeship programme has been instrumental in shaping her career.


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