Sara Jenner-Akehurst has been named as the 2024 Local Government Apprentice of the Year.
A Business Support Apprentice and a Level 3 Standard Business Administrator at Cambridgeshire County Council, Ms Jenner-Akehurst won the award by competing in a day of virtual challenges designed to showcase participants’ skills, expertise and initiative.
Now in its fourth year, the one-day national event was designed and delivered in partnership, by the LGA, South West Councils and the East of England LGA, with 119 Level 2 and 3 local government apprentices taking part from across England and Wales.
Ms Jenner-Akehurst said: “I was really nervous when I went into the event, but I was assisted throughout by the organisers who made it really accessible for my disabilities.
“To think that I had given it my all and really connected with people I had never met was a big achievement, let alone be crowned the Local Government Apprentice of the Year 2024.”
An LGA spokesperson said: “This award is a great opportunity to express our thanks to, and recognise the achievements of, our fantastic local government apprentices who, as our winner Sara demonstrates, approach their work with dedication and skill.”
The LGA’s Apprenticeship Support Programme enables councils to deliver successful apprenticeship schemes to help people into training and employment, as part of its wider sector support offer.