On 13th July 2023, the prestigious VTCT Excellence Awards took place at Milton Keynes College. The event honoured the remarkable talent and inspiring stories behind the highly skilled professionals we interact with every day.
The Excellence Awards exist to reinforce our charitable objective of seeking to advance education for the benefit of the public and recognise those who do this. As well as this, the Excellence Awards marked 60 years of VTCT, bringing together the VTCT group of companies (iTEC, VTCT, Skillsfirst and Skills for Logistics) in celebration.
Learners and training providers were honoured for their skills and expertise, and their stories of triumph over adversity were showcased throughout.
The event saw students taking over the reins, with Milton Keynes College learners on-site to makeover vocational education’s most influential figures including Corrienne Peasgood OBE and Jayne Lewis-Orr. Additionally, guests were treated to an afternoon tea and light lunch exclusively catered by the talented students of Milton Keynes College.
Tensions ran high as shortlisted nominees waited to find out who had won.
We are now delighted to announce the winners and highly commended finalists for the awards:
Apprentice of the Year (sponsored by L’Oréal Professional Products)
Winner:
Natasha Bloor (Kleek Apprenticeships)
Highly Commended:
Katie Bowen (Haha Training Academy)
Maria Snow (Kleek Apprenticeships)
Student of the Year (sponsored by Wella)
Winner:
Natalia Osovska (White Rose Beauty College – Chesterfield)
Highly Commended:
Irfana Kausar (Bedfordshire Beauty Training Academy)
Louis-Ray Skillicorn-Aston (Chelmsford College)
Shamalia Samair (Learning Curve Group Wallsend Hair and Beauty Academy)
Tutor / Educator of the Year (sponsored by Pivot Point)
Winner:
Nicola Aviolet (Kleek Apprenticeships)
Highly Commended:
Elizabeth Mackay (Coleg Sir Gar)
Ian Bremner (Leicester College)
Independent Training Provider of the Year (Large)
Winner:
Learning Curve Group
Highly Commended:
Kids Planet Day Nurseries Training Academy
Kleek Apprenticeships
Independent Training Provider of the Year (Small)
Winner:
Greenhouse Therapies Ltd
Highly Commended:
CS Beauty Academy – Wrexham
Hair at the Academy
College of the Year
Winner:
Milton Keynes College
Highly Commended:
Cardiff & Vale College
Suffolk New College
VTCT Champion of the Year
Winner:
Mary Pugsley, MBE (Hair at the Academy)
Highly Commended:
Robert Russell (ZISHI Cornerstone Ltd)
Sarah Artistry
Thank you to all the nominees and everyone who was involved in this year’s Excellence Awards.
Make sure you keep an eye on our social media platforms to find out when applications reopen for the 2024 awards.