View the official photos: https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjD9hvD
Over 800 guests gathered in Birmingham for the 11th annual Multicultural Apprenticeship Awards, celebrating the achievements of apprentices, employers and education providers from across the UK.
Friday 6th November 2026 – Over 800 guests gathered at The Vox Conference Venue in Birmingham for the 11th annual Multicultural Apprenticeship Awards, celebrating the outstanding achievements of apprentices, employers, learning providers, universities and schools who are helping to shape a more diverse, inclusive and skilled workforce.
Founded by Pathway Group in 2015, the Awards have grown into a nationally recognised platform celebrating excellence, diversity and social mobility, championing the transformative power of apprenticeships and the opportunities they create for individuals and communities across the UK.
Returning to Birmingham, the home of the Awards, following last year’s first-ever ceremony in London, this year’s event marked another significant milestone in its continued growth and national impact.
The 2026 Awards attracted a record-breaking response, with more than 500 nominations received. The shortlist featured 180 apprentices, 58 employers, 14 learning providers, eight universities and eight schools, reflecting the exceptional talent, ambition and commitment to widening access to apprenticeship opportunities across the country.
The event was proudly supported by NOCN Group as Headline Sponsor, whose continued commitment has played an important role in supporting the growth and development of the Awards over the years.
Among the standout apprentice winners were:
- Zahra Arefa, Commitment to Apprenticeships Award 2026, recognised for her exceptional dedication to championing apprenticeship pathways and inspiring others through her own trailblazing journey. Having started as one of Great Ormond Street Hospital’s first Level 2 Science Apprentices in 2020, Zahra has progressed through Level 4 and is now completing her Level 6 degree apprenticeship in Applied Biomedical Science, becoming the hospital’s first home-grown scientist to progress through the entire apprenticeship route.
- Zaneta Philgence, Charity, Voluntary & Public Services Apprentice of the Year, whose extraordinary journey saw her overcome significant personal and financial adversity, including homelessness and the challenges of single parenthood to rebuild her career through an apprenticeship.
- Faris Kadeb, Construction Services Apprentice of the Year, whose determination and ambition have translated into exceptional professional achievements. After applying for more than 20 apprenticeship programmes, Faris secured an offer with Thames Water and has since progressed to managing ten live projects, while securing funding for a further nine projects worth approximately £1 million.
- Melissa Moyo, Health, Medical & Social Care Apprentice of the Year, recognised for her inspiring journey from rebuilding her life as a refugee from Ukraine to becoming a confident clinician, leader and advocate. Her commitment to inclusion, supporting fellow apprentices and creating meaningful change across the NHS and education community demonstrates the wider impact of apprenticeships.
Organisations across a wide range of sectors were also recognised for their outstanding commitment to developing talent and creating inclusive career pathways.
Compass Group UK & Ireland was named Large Employer of the Year for the third consecutive year, recognising its sustained investment in talent development and inclusive career progression. Having supported more than 2,000 apprentices over the past two years, its specialist academies provide opportunities ranging from entry-level qualifications to degree-level programmes. With 53% of apprentices progressing into higher-level roles or promotions, the organisation continues to demonstrate the value of long-term investment in apprenticeships.
Other notable organisational winners included NatWest Group, National Grid, Vodafone, BBC, The Development Manager, Lifetime Training, Capital City College Group and Northeastern University London, for their outstanding commitment to apprenticeship development.
Lieutenant Colonel Ruth Littlejohns MBE
The evening also recognised an exceptional contribution to advancing apprenticeships across the UK, with Lieutenant Colonel Ruth Littlejohns MBE, Policy and Governance Lead for the British Army Apprenticeships Programme, receiving the Overall Contribution to Apprenticeships 2026 award.
With responsibility for a programme supporting approximately 13,000 learners, around 4,000 apprenticeship starts each year and 41 apprenticeship programmes spanning Levels 2 to 7, Ruth’s work demonstrates the scale, reach and importance of apprenticeships in developing a skilled workforce.
Reflecting on the Awards, Safaraz Ali MBE, Founder of the Multicultural Apprenticeship Awards, said:
“Over eleven years, we have worked together to change the perception of apprenticeships and ensure they are recognised as an equal, valuable and often better choice for people from every background. Apprenticeships are about careers, not courses. They are about creating opportunities, supporting progression and helping individuals shape their futures. I would like to thank NOCN Group for their continued support, alongside our sponsors, partners, judges and everyone who has contributed to making this year’s Awards such a success.”
Graham Hasting-Evans, Chief Executive of NOCN Group
Graham Hasting-Evans, Chief Executive of NOCN Group, said:
“The Multicultural Apprenticeship Awards provide an important platform to celebrate exceptional talent, recognise the organisations creating opportunities and highlight the positive impact apprenticeships have on individuals and communities. Congratulations to all this year’s winners and finalists. We are proud to continue supporting the Awards and their important mission.”
The evening culminated in Ubhay Ashfaq, Solicitor Apprentice at Freshfields, being crowned Apprentice of the Year 2026. Ubhay’s remarkable journey saw him overcome serious illness before choosing an apprenticeship over an offer from Cambridge University. His professional achievement, personal resilience, innovation and an outstanding commitment to widening access to the legal profession, exemplifies the transformative potential of apprenticeships.
Now in their eleventh year, the Multicultural Apprenticeship Awards continue to provide a powerful platform for celebrating role models, recognising best practice and challenging perceptions of apprenticeships.
Ubhay Ashfaq – Apprentice of the Year 2026
Full List of Winners
Apprentice of the Year 2026 (sponsored by NOCN)
Ubhay Ashfaq – Freshfields (BPP)
Commitment to Apprenticeships (sponsored by ThinkFest)
Zahra Arefa (Biomedical Scientist at Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust)
Overall Contribution to Apprenticeships (sponsored by Pathway Group)
Lieutenant Colonel Ruth Littlejohns MBE (Policy and Governance Lead for the British Army Apprenticeships Programme)
Accounting & Finance (sponsored by Kaplan UK)
Apprentice Winner – Hina Nadim – HSBC UK (Kaplan)
Employer Winner – NatWest Group
Business & Professional Services (sponsored by Mindful Education)
Apprentice Winner – Priya Bali – BT Group (Babington)
Employer Winner – Accenture UK & Ireland
Legal Services (sponsored by City Century)
Apprentice Winner – Ubhay Ashfaq – Freshfields (BPP)
Employer Winner – Dentons
Charity, Voluntary & Public Services (sponsored by Royal Navy)
Apprentice Winner – Zaneta Philgence – Nova Training
Employer Winner – Historic Royal Palaces
Health, Medical & Social Care (sponsored by Paragon Skills)
Apprentice Winner – Melissa Moyo – Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust (University of Salford)
Employer Winner – Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust
Construction Services (sponsored by Severn Trent)
Apprentice Winner – Faris Kadeb – Thames Water (University of the Built Environment)
Employer Winner – Complete Fixing Solutions
Engineering & Manufacturing (sponsored by Enginuity)
Apprentice Winner – Hasiba Nawaz – Balmoral Tanks (AMRC Training Centre)
Employer Winner – National Grid
Digital & Technology (sponsored by BT Group)
Apprentice Winner – Shalom Gallagher – Accenture UK & Ireland (BPP)
Employer Winner – Vodafone
Creative, Media & Marketing (sponsored by NatWest Group)
Apprentice Winner – Aaliah Patel – Channel 4 (Paragon Skills)
Employer Winner – BBC
Retail, Hospitality & Tourism (sponsored by Lifetime Training)
Apprentice Winner – Mehnaz Akhter – B&Q
Employer Winner – EG On The Move
Transport & Logistics (sponsored by British Army)
Apprentice Winner – Shahida Begum – Transport for London (Makers)
Employer Winner – Go-Ahead London
Intermediate Apprentice of the Year (sponsored by BMet)
Level 2 Winner – Fung Ming Chan – Wickes (Webs Training)
Level 3 Winner – Muneeb-Ur Rehman – NatWest Group (QA)
Judges’ Choice (sponsored by Lloyds Banking Group)
Winner – Roya Amiri – Bank of America (Ada, the National College for Digital Skills)
Small, Medium Employer of the Year (sponsored by Amazing Apprenticeships)
Winner – Monkey Puzzle Day Nursery Greenford
Large Employer of the Year (sponsored by Pearson)
Winner – Compass Group UK & Ireland
Learning Provider of the Year (sponsored by Multicultural Apprenticeship & Skills Alliance)
Small Learning Provider Winner – The Development Manager
Large Learning Provider Winner – Lifetime Training
College of the Year Winner – Capital City College Group
University of the Year (sponsored by AstraZeneca)
Winner – Northeastern University London
School of the Year (sponsored by Festival of Apprenticeships)
Winner – Avanti House Secondary School
