The award recognises Archie’s dedication to his role, the progress he has made throughout his apprenticeship, and the positive impact he has made during his time with HR Smith. It was his second award of the evening, as he was also joint winner of Apprentice of the Year Advanced Level, along with Bethany Mason of Avant Garde Salon.

The awards ceremony brought together apprentices, employers, mentors, training providers and local partners to celebrate excellence across the county’s growing skills sector. Nominees and finalists represented a wide range of industries, reflecting the strength and diversity of apprenticeship opportunities in Herefordshire.

Judges evaluated an exceptional pool of nominations showcasing commitment, personal growth, technical skill and contribution to employers and the wider community.

The results from the awards evening are:

Apprentice of the Year - Advanced Level

Joint Winners

Archie Ellis - HR Smith

& Bethany Mason - Avant Garde Salon

Apprentice of the Year - Higher Level

Winner

Mick Seabourne

KGD Ltd

Highly commended

Antonio Guerri

Wye Valley NHS Trust

Apprentice of the Year - Degree Level

Winner

Jake Fosterjohn

Herefordshire Council
 

Highly commended

Daniel Kent

Herefordshire Council

Mentor of the Year

Winner

Shaun Farrell

2 Counties Construction Ltd

Employer of the Year - Small Business Category

Winner

Environmental Management Solutions

Employer of the Year - Large Business Category

Winner

Wye Valley NHS Trust

Endeavour Apprentice of the Year

Winner

Finlay Yeomans

Royston Davies Ltd

Most Valued Contribution of the Year

Winner

Ryan James

Allpay Ltd

Overall Apprentice of the Year

Winner

Archie Ellis

HR Smith

Cllr Graham Biggs, Cabinet Member for Economy and Growth, said: 

“Congratulations to all of the nominees, finalists and the winners. The awards ceremony was an opportunity to recognise and celebrate the talent and successes of individuals, employers, mentors, training providers and the impact their work has on local businesses and the county’s economy.

“This first ever Herefordshire Apprenticeship Awards has been a year in the making. The joy and excitement on the night made all the work worthwhile. It’s clear everyone is already looking forward to next year.”

David Williams, Chair of the Herefordshire Skills Board, added:

“We are absolutely delighted by the success of our first partnership awards. We’ve been able to shine a light on those individuals who are making a huge difference to the employers and the organisations who recognise the importance of apprenticeships and are driving opportunities, innovation and growth across the county.”

Archie Ellis of HR Smith, winner of the Overall Apprenticeship of the Year award and joint winner of the Apprentice of the Year Advanced Level award, said: 

“It feels amazing to be recognised for your hard work that you put into an apprenticeship. You graft right from the beginning and to have that support around you is just amazing. For them to nominate you to be recognised is a brilliant achievement to have.”

Chris Wood, Associate Director of Education/OD and Workforce Transformation at Wye Valley NHS Trust, winners of Employers of the Year, Large Business Category, added:

“This is an amazing achievement for the Trust. Apprenticeships have been the heart of our workforce strategy and we’ve spent a lot of time investing in grow our own workforce and had some real successes. But the key to this is that all our education providers here today have helped us on this journey. Absolutely amazing. I’m bowled over really by it.”

More information about the Growth Hub’s Herefordshire Apprenticeship Awards is available online.