Portsmouth & Chichester Apprenticeship Awards 2026: celebrating local talent
14 awards were handed out to recognise determination and enthusiasm of apprentices and mentors
The Portsmouth & Chichester Apprenticeship Awards 2026 took place on October 22 in the Portsmouth Marriott hotel, to celebrate the successes of apprentices and apprenticeship providers from many different fields.
Nominees enjoyed a drinks reception and three-course meal before the ceremony, hosted by Mark Collins from Nation Radio. The event recognised the determination and enthusiasm of apprentices and employers by handing out 14 awards over the course of the evening.
The evening emphasised that success relies on partnerships, acknowledging not only the apprentices but also the training providers and mentors who invest significant time and guidance into nurturing local talent.
Mark Waldron, Editor in Chief of Iconic Media South, said in his welcoming remarks: “Apprenticeships play a vital role in our local economy. They give individuals a clear path into brilliant careers and hands-on experience, while providing local businesses with the skilled workforce they need to thrive.
“None of this happens without strong partnership. Tonight is not only about recognising our incredible apprentices but also the employers and training providers who invest time and effort into developing local talent, as well as the mentors who offer guidance every step of the way.”
Captain Lee McLocklan, Captain of the Base at HM Naval Base Portsmouth on behalf of the event’s headline partner the Royal Navy, said: “ Certainly, Portsmouth and Chichester have a proud history of developing skilled people. Tonight gives us an opportunity to celebrate not only exceptional apprentices, but also, as mentioned before, employers, mentors, training providers, and, more crucially, families.
“I see it every day in the naval base, the real strength of an apprenticeship is that possibility and the ability to go beyond what is normal of a qualification or a skill. It gives people the opportunity to develop professional skills, build confidence, and practical experience while making meaningful contributions to organizations from the outset.”
Chris Davies, apprentice chair for the Southeast Apprenticeship Ambassador Network, emphasised the importance of apprenticeships. He said: “I think apprenticeships can just really make you who you are. I think bringing your whole self to work is such a vital thing, and apprenticeships give you that ability to be able to bring your whole self to work and really champion your own skills and development.”
Daisy West, winner of the Higher Apprentice of the year award, said: “After starting sixth form thinking I was going to university and then coming out of that, working while learning was so much better than going straight into education. So, I found it a lot more relaxed than what it could have been.
“My work was very supportive and gave me time to do my apprenticeship work when I needed to. So, I found there was a really healthy balance between work life, education, and personal life as well.”
The awards were decided by a panel of judges composed of industry experts who diligently reviewed every nomination to determine this year’s finalists. Judges noted that the exceptional calibre of entries made this year’s selection process particularly challenging.
The panel comprised of: Simon Ashwood, Military Independent Assessment Authority Team Leader for the Royal Navy, Fiona Stilwell, Chief Executive Officer for PETA, Chris Davies, Apprentice Chair for the South East Apprenticeship Ambassador Network, Matt Johnson, Director of South Coast Institute of Technology, David Humphries, CEO of Shaping Portsmouth, Mark Waldron, Editor in Chief South for Iconic Media and Jon Daines, Managing Director for Construction of Amiri Construction Ltd.
During the event a raffle was organised to raise funds for Iconic Event’s charity partner, Aphasia Support. Aphasia is a language disorder which affects a person’s ability to speak, read, write and understand language, and is often the devastating result of a stroke or head injury. A total of £1370 was raised at the event.
The winners of the apprenticeship awards were:
Intermediate Apprentice of the Year: Bella Driscoll - South Coast Alliance
Advanced Apprentice of the Year: James Lawson - Mipa Paints
Higher Apprentice of the Year: Daisy West - Sisters Inn Arms Venues Ltd
Degree Apprentice of the Year: Holly Griffin - Biscoes Solicitors
Construction Apprentice of the Year: Sam Reed - Amiri Construction Ltd
Health and Public Service Apprentice of the Year: Chris Davies - Department for Work and Pensions
Engineering & Manufacturing Apprentice of the Year: Arthur Barton-Hide - Mott MacDonald
Professional Services Apprentice of the Year: Lauren Bell - BAE Systems
Technology and Digital Apprentice of the Year: Seyni Ndoye - Portsmouth Aviation
Training Provider of the Year: South Hampshire College Group
Apprentice Ambassador of the Year: Alison Lee - Biscoes Solicitors
Mentor of the Year: Katie Mann - Shoots Training Limited
SME Employer of the Year: South Coast Alliance CIC
Large Employer of the Year: West Sussex County Council