Could your amazing apprentice be crowned champion?
The Local Government Apprentice of the Year 2025 is a national event organised by the LGA, South West Councils, and Local Government East (formerly the East of England LGA).
Participants compete in an all-day online challenge to be crowned the sector’s top apprentice.
Each year, councils in England, Wales and Northern Ireland are invited to nominate one or more level 2 and 3 apprentices, and, in 2024, 119 took part.
They worked through a range of activities on the theme of health and wellbeing, aimed at developing successful workplace behaviours and linked to a range of apprenticeship standards. The event’s development leads were on hand to mentor and support the apprentices and assess their work through group activities.
The theme for 2025 will be unveiled nearer the time.
Each participant will receive an individual report with their scores for each activity and an ‘employer checklist’ with suggested questions for line managers to use, to continue the staff development conversations well beyond the close of the event itself.
Local Government Apprentice of the Year 2025 takes place from 20-21 May, and is open to all level 2 and 3 apprentices in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. This includes current apprentices and those qualified within the past 12 months.
There is a charge of £149 for each participating apprentice. Find out more and book your place, by 29 April.
And the winner was…
The Local Government Apprentice of the Year in 2024 was Sara Jenner-Akehurst, who, at the time, was a Level 3 Business Support Apprentice from Cambridgeshire County Council.
Sara applied for the event in the hope of being able to network with other apprentices, while also pushing herself out of her comfort zone.
With assistance from the organisers, she was able to get the support she required to make the event accessible for her disabilities, and was then able to focus on her pre-event preparation – researching the theme (health and wellbeing).
Sara said: “Since winning the Local Government Apprentice of the Year, my confidence has grown.
“Attending the event showed me that I can do things, even if I feel nervous or scared. I’ve felt more able to suggest changes to tasks or procedures when I think they can be improved. I’m really enjoying my new role and am excited to continue learning and doing my best!”
Since winning, Sara has completed her apprenticeship and secured a permanent role with Cambridgeshire County Council.
Her line manager, Senior Business Officer Louisa Altounis Gilby, said: “Since joining the team in October, Sara has hit the ground running in her role and has already been involved in key changes to make the service more efficient.
“We are really pleased to have Sara in the team, and are lucky to have her.”
Apprenticeship support
The LGA supports councils to deliver successful apprenticeship schemes that help young people into training and employment, as part of its government-funded sector support offer.
Its Apprenticeship Support programme helps councils share good practice, provides advice and guidance, and supports councils to problem solve via an action learning programme. It also audits council apprenticeship programmes through ‘Apprenticeships MOT’ health checks.