Camden gives a ‘Big Thank You’ to apprentices
Camden’s apprentices and employers celebrated the eighth annual National Apprenticeship Week on Thursday 12 March.A ‘Big Thank You’ event at the Grange Hotel Holborn acknowledged the achievements of existing apprentices and thanked employers for their support.
The winners were:
· Best team player: Ella Ford (Apprentice Conference Administrator – Unison)
· Most reliable apprentice: Shahan Tarafdar (Apprentice Housing Officer - Camden Council’s Housing Management team)
Most improved apprentice: Genesis Montanez-Valle (Apprentice Receptionist -Grange Hotel) and Sophie Wilkinson (Organising Unit Apprentice – Unison)
· Best customer focus: Joana Heliotrope (Customer Services Apprentice -Camden Council’s Culture and Customers team)
· Supervisor of the year: David Parkes (Florida State University)
· Apprentice of the year: Noor Al-Baddawy (Business Administration Apprentice - Camden Council’s Communities team)
During the week, our apprenticeships team hosted an apprenticeship awareness event at Kings Cross Construction Skills Centre. Young people met prospective employers and were given the chance to make a lasting impression through a series of speed interviews and employability workshops.
Last year our apprenticeships scheme supported more than 240 young people into apprenticeships, helping employers to source motivated 16-24 years olds to fill skills gaps in a wide range of sectors.
Councillor Sarah Hayward, leader of Camden Council, said:
“Many congratulations to the apprentices and employers. Camden is a fantastic place and has the potential to offer a wealth of opportunity to the next generation. We recognise that apprenticeships provide an excellent way for businesses to tackle skills shortages, succeed and grow.
“Apprentices also make loyal employees who are eager to prove the value of the investment their employers have made in them. This is why we are committed to creating 240 apprenticeships every year for Camden young people. “
Winner of Apprentice of the year Noor Al – Baddawy who works for Camden Council’s Communities team as a Business Adminstration Apprentice said:
“The thing I’ve most gained from my apprenticeship is an invaluable step up into the career that I want to do. I grew up in Maiden Lane, a local community in Camden which has traditionally been quite impoverished. When I saw the opportunity to work with the Communities and third sector team I also saw an opportunity to improve the community that I came from and to actually give kids that grew up with the same background as me more opportunities through helping community centres and helping the people of Camden. This job has given me a sense of fulfilment and of giving something back to my community.”
Winner of Most Reliable Apprentice, Shahan Tarafdar, who works for Camden Council’s Housing Management team as an Apprentice Housing Officer said:
“I failed my A-Levels twice but one of my tutors at college helped me to apply for this role on the deadline and I got it, so it’s never too late to change things! I got thrown into a normal job straight away which has given me great experience in working under pressure and problem solving. All of this is a great way to build self-confidence.”