Shortlist 2026

Accounting & Finance

Sponsored by:

Apprentice Finalists

Abhishek Tinaani – J.P Morgan (University of Exeter)
Aisha Ayub
– Skipton Building Society (Institute of Internal Auditors)
Amaan Huda
– Goldman Sachs (Queen Mary University of London)
Ben Tetteh
– Lloyds Banking Group (Kaplan)
Chibudom Ezedigboh
– Goldman Sachs (Queen Mary, University of London)
Demi Mattu
– HSBC UK (Kaplan)
Fatima Sultana
– NatWest Group (BPP)
Hina Nadim
– HSBC UK (Kaplan)
Kelvin Manuel
– Howden Group Holdings (University of East London)
Moyo Adereti
– Amazon (Kaplan)
Sireen Muni
r – E.ON UK (Kaplan)
Sukdeep Kaur
– ReBound Returns (BPP)

Employer Finalists

Chaucer Group
HMRC
Howden Group Holdings
HSBC UK
Lloyds Banking Group
NatWest Group

Business & Professional Services

Sponsored by:

Apprentice Finalists

Aman Oliveira-Ghotra – Staffordshire County Council (Performance Through People)
Bernadett Braz
– Cavendish Nuclear (Total People)
Jewisha Gurung
– McDonald’s (Manchester Metropolitan University)
Mark Cooper
– Amazon (University of Exeter)
Monday Louis Ewanbor
– Marston Holdings (Smart Training and Recruitment)
Natalie Thomas
– Deutsche Bank (University of Exeter)
Pooja Jain
– Imperial War Museum (University of Kent)
Priya Bali
– BT Group (Babington)
Racheal Commodore
– NHS England (Total People)
Shania Nayyar
– Deutsche Bank (University of Exeter)
Victoria Mashindi
– Lloyds Banking Group (North Hertfordshire College)
Yana Sharma
– Accenture (University of East London)

Employer Finalists

Accenture
KPMG LLP
EY
Grant Thornton UK

Legal Services

Sponsored by:

Apprentice Finalists

Amaara Latif – Weightmans LLP (BPP University)
Enoch Ajayi
– DWF Solicitors (BPP)
Jagtara Singh Taak
– Loch Law Limited (BPP University)
Joanna Mbugua
– Leigh Day (The University of Law)
Mohammad Malik
– HFW LLP (The University of Law)
Nathania Olajide
– DWF (BPP)
Rutvi Shah
– Historic Royal Palaces (BPP)
Simran Arora Singh
– DAC Beachcroft (BPP University Law School)
Subhan Shan
– TLT LLP (BBP)
Sumaya Islam
– Eversheds Sutherland (The University of Law)
Tobi Adedeji
– Farrer & Co (The University of Law)
Ubhay Ashfaq
– Freshfields (BPP)

Employer Finalists

Dentons
DWF
TLT LLP
Weightmans LLP

Charity, Voluntary & Public Services

Sponsored by:

Apprentice Finalists

Aaqil Ullah – L&Q Group (Kaplan)
Anisa Hussain
– Epic Partners (Coach Core Foundation / Lifetime Training)
Asia Asgar
– Nottingham Muslim Women’s Network (Coach Core Foundation / Lifetime Training)
Erin Lowe
– Worcestershire County Cricket Club
Guilherme Santos Da Fonseca
– London Borough of Hackney (Founders and Coders)
Jasmine Kwentoh
– Office for National Statistics (University of Kent)
Jay Chauhan
– Leicester City Council (RHG Consult)
Kyla Hill
– Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Kaplan)
Melissa Forrester-Frame
– British Army (University of Staffordshire)
Samuel Richards
– The Royal Mencap Society (Creative Alliance)
Zack Aram
– Severn Trent Water (Intec Business Colleges)
Zaneta Philgence
– Nova Training

Employer Finalists

British Army
City of Wolverhampton Council
Historic Royal Palaces
London Borough of Hackney
London Early Years Foundation
Sandwell College

Health, Medical & Social Care

Sponsored by:

Apprentice Finalists

Danial Omair – AstraZeneca (Compass Skills Training)
Fatima Adalat
– Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust (Skills4Pharmacy)
Freddy Varikalayil
– Anchor Hanover (Learning Curve Group)
Kelly Anne Russell
– City of Wolverhampton Council (Birmingham City University)
Kimberley Webster
– East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust (Northeastern University London)
Melissa Moyo
– Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust (University of Salford)
Om Patel
– Labcorp (Manchester Metropolitan University)
Rebecca Kalistus
– Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust (London Metropolitan College)
Rianne Richards-Wickham
– Serenity Path Care (Performance Through People)
Robert Kisitu
– Cygnet Health (Learning Curve Group)
Safaa Safeer
– The Firs Day Nursery (Total People)
Tamuno Diepriye Wakama
– Hesley Group (Learning Curve Group)

Employer Finalists

AstraZeneca
Bloxwich Dental Practice
Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust
Hamd House Nursery
Hammersmith & Fulham Talking Therapies
King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust
London Ambulance Service NHS Trust
Longton Dental Practice
Monkey Puzzle Day Nursery Greenford
The Rotherham NHS Foundation Trust

Construction Services

Sponsored by:

Apprentice Finalists

Abigail Debrah – Sizewell C (Northeastern University London)
Abigail Owolabi
– Mott Macdonald (London South Bank University)
Christian Nondje Essoh Silva
– Historic Royal Palaces (South Bank Colleges)
Elizabeth Joseph-Adigun
– Hill Group UK (The University of Westminster)
Faris Kadeb
– Thames Water (University of the Built Environment)
Keniea Russell
– Turner & Townsend (Weston College)
Lamara Martin
– Complete Fixing Solutions (BPP)
Meshal Fiaz
– Multiplex London (South Bank University)
Muaaz Ul-Haq
– BAM UK & Ireland (Leeds College of Building)
Nickel Innis
– WSP in the UK & Ireland (London South Bank University)
Paul Watson-Peters
– Mott MacDonald (Northeastern University London)
Shani Jones
– Wulfrun Building Solutions (City of Wolverhampton College)

Employer Finalists

BAM UK & Ireland
Complete Fixing Solutions
Mott Macdonald
Wates Property Services

Engineering & Manufacturing

Sponsored by:

Apprentice Finalists

Diya Upadhyay – AstraZeneca (University of Strathclyde)
Hasiba Nawaz
– Balmoral Tanks (AMRC Training Centre)
Hikmah Nazmee
– Mondelēz International (Aston University)
Jaya Gill
– Coca-Cola Europacific Partners (Fife College)
Kareena Sandhu
– National Grid
Maleeha Patel
– Amazon (MTC – Manufacturing Technology Centre)
Oliur Rahman
– NTT Global Data Centers (London South Bank University)
Rhyannon Jefferies
– Dick Lovett (Inspiro Learning / BMW Group Academy UK)
Subhaan Arshad
– Bryden Wood (London South Bank University)
Theophilus Onisha
– National Grid
Tino Mumvuri
– Aston Martin (SRSCC)
Zaid Kotwal
– Arup (University of Salford)

Employer Finalists

Coca-Cola Europacific Partners
E.ON UK
Lunts Casting
McLaren Automotive
National Grid

Digital & Technology

Sponsored by:

Apprentice Finalists

Abuansari Azad – Amazon (QA)
Aisha Parker
– Jaguar Land Rover (University of Warwick)
Amaan Perwiz
– bp (Corndel College London)
Angel Khumbula
– Microsoft (TDM)
Areeba Hussain
– E.ON UK (Nottingham Trent University)
Faidah Oki
– BT Group (University of Staffordshire)
Felicity Bruce
– Vodafone (Blackpool and The Fylde College)
Gagandeep Kapoor
– IBM (Northeastern University London)
Hannah Nobeebux
– Vodafone (Blackpool and The Fylde College)
Jashanpreet Ralla
– HSBC UK (Ada, the National College for Digital Skills)
Maya Kainth
– City of Wolverhampton Council (QA)
Mehr-un-Nisa Ahmed
– NatWest Group (QA)
Muumbe Hapenga
– PwC UK (Ada, the National College for Digital Skills)
Pharrell Morgan
– Samsung Electronics UK (Aptem / Henley Business School)
Rikhel Trivedi
– IBM (Northeastern University London)
Saarthak Kesarwani
– Capgemini (Sheffield Hallam University)
Shade Obiti
– Accenture (BPP)
Shalom Gallagher
– Accenture (BPP)
Ugonna Okoro
– Lloyds Banking Group (Firebrand Training / BPP)
Yanmi Orebowale
– National Highways (BPP University)

Employer Finalists

IBM
Microsoft
Samsung Electronics UK
Vodafone

Creative, Media & Marketing

Sponsored by:

Apprentice Finalists

Aaliah Patel – Channel 4 (Paragon Skills)
Anika Puchalska
– Elixirr Digital (Anglia Ruskin University)
Fatou Dampha
– BT Group (Manchester Metropolitan University)
Jessica Faye
– Google (Makers)
Mariam Hamis
– NatWest Group (QA)
Megan McCabe
– Rhotic Media (London South Bank University)
Numar Uddin
– Sky (QA)
Parul Pankhania
– Sky (QA)
Pascaline Akas
– Google (Makers)
Shweta Shantilal
– Amazon (SCL Education Group)
Tamilore Olotu
– ID Card Centre (The Marketing Trainer)
Ya-Adam Kombo
– BBC (Manchester Metropolitan University)

Employer Finalists

BBC
Channel 4
Google
Rhotic Media

Retail, Hospitality & Tourism

Sponsored by:

Apprentice Finalists

Beatriz Torres Prado – Hilton Hotels & Resorts (GLP Training)
Cyril Pereira – Compass Group UK & I (HIT Training)
Diana Onyeka
– Compass Group UK & I (Westminster Kingsway College)
Emmanuel Oluwarantimi Abiola
– Whitbread (Lifetime Training)
Hayden Yu
– Compass Group UK & I (HIT Training)
Hussna Shirzad
– McDonald’s (Lifetime Training)
Jawaad Patel
– EG On The Move (Intec Business Colleges)
Kyrie Esmino
– The Garrick Club (Capital City College)
Mabel Blazquez Anache
– Whitbread (Lifetime Training)
Maleah Rutty
– British Airways (BPP)
Mehnaz Akhter
– B&Q
Pedro Lopes
– Mitchells & Butlers (Lifetime Training)

Employer Finalists

Compass Group UK & Ireland
EG On The Move
Joana’s Hair Elite
Mahirs Experience
Omni Grup

Transport & Logistics

Sponsored by:

Apprentice Finalists

Dante Senior – British Airways (Northeastern University London)
Hassnain Qayoum
– London Luton Airport (Bedford College)
Irma Kmitaite
– Amazon (University of Exeter)
Jaime Pena Monteiro
– Leicestershire County Council (Leeds College of Building)
Joshua Rout
– GTS Rail Operations (University of East London)
Masud Sharif
– Amazon (Siemens UK)
Monica Dave
– Leicestershire County Council (Leeds College of Building)
Shahida Begum
– Transport for London (Makers)
Supriya Sharma
– Amazon (Qualitrain)
Vishal Singla
– Amazon (Qualitrain)
Yasmeen Bey
– Volkswagen Group UK (Cranfield University)
Zainab Hussain
– Rolls-Royce (Sheffield Hallam University)

Employer Finalists

Amazon
Go-Ahead London
Jet2
Northern Trains

Intermediate Apprentice
of the Year

Sponsored by:

Level 2 Apprentice Finalists

Aayan Khan – Rolls-Royce (Make UK)
Aisha Joel – Compass Group UK & I (HIT Training)
Amia Fishley
– Compass Group UK & I (University College Birmingham)
Brian Belnavis
– Hackney Council (United Colleges Group)
Dontae Rock
– Complete Fixing Solutions (New City College)
Fung Ming Chan
– Wickes (Webs Training)
Greice Citadin
– Mitchells & Butlers (Lifetime Training)
Har Hat Su
– Mitchells & Butlers (Lifetime Training)
Ion-Liviu Stocia
– Mitchells & Butlers (Lifetime Training)
Madushan Maddumage
– Amazon
Raziya Akhtar
– EA Spaces (Newcastle and Stafford Colleges Group)
Riko Hall-Palmer
– Royal Air Force

Level 3 Apprentice Finalists

Ahmad Bedekar – EG On The Move (Blackburn College)
Amarpreet Dhaiwal
– The Development Manager
Elisabetta Villalobos – Google (Makers)
Jolean Ottley
– Royal Navy
Jonathan Mendieta Gutierrez
– Financial Ombudsman Service (Firebrand Training / BPP)
Karem Violeta Garcia McIntosh
– Integra Supported Housing (Performance Through People)
Keenan Oculie
– British Army (Pearson)
Leah Mepani
– Google (Makers)
Muneeb-Ur Rehman
– NatWest Group (QA)
Nicole Timmerman
– EG On The Move (MBKB Training)
Yuliia Kozel
– GE Vernova (Newcastle and Stafford Colleges Group)
Zaynah Ali
– NatWest Group (BPP)

Judges’ Choice

Sponsored by:

Ahnaf Laskar – Chaucer Group (Davies Learning Solutions)
Amaya Sophia Ahmed
– Colliers International (University of the Built Environment)
Aryan Daiya
– Capgemini (Sheffield Hallam University)
Asif Shamsad
– HSBC UK (Kaplan)
Caleb Alabi
– Mondelēz International (Aston University)
Cheryl Dolapo Ogundimu
– Mitie (Corndel)
Daisy Parker
– Microsoft (The Development Manager)
Eshaal Khan
– Capgemini (Sheffield Hallam University)
Fathiya Abdulahi – Accenture (BPP University)
Habiba Noor
– Bank of England (University of Exeter)
Jayden Rakhra
– Vodafone (Blackpool and The Fylde College)
Kai Hallam
– Lloyds Banking Group (Hart Learning & Development)
Martyna Szpojankowska
– AstraZeneca (Northeastern University London)
Mostafa Abdelshafy
– Rolls-Royce (University of Derby)
Omer Ali Omer
– IBM (Manchester Metropolitan University)
Qadees Nasir
– Barclays (Manchester Metropolitan University)
Rhea Bakrania
– Accenture (University of East London)
Roya Amiri
– Bank of America (Ada, the National College for Digital Skills)
Shivraaj Darbar
– London Stock Exchange Group (BPP)
Zahra Arefa
– Great Ormond Street Hospital (University of Westminster)

Small, Medium Employer of the Year

Sponsored by:

Bloxwich Dental Practice
Complete Fixing Solutions
Hamd House Nursery
Hammersmith & Fulham Talking Therapies
Joana’s Hair Elite
Longton Dental Practice
Lunts Casting
Mahirs Experience
Monkey Puzzle Day Nursery Greenford
Rhotic Media

Large Employer of the Year

Sponsored by:

Accenture
Amazon
AstraZeneca
BAM UK & I
BBC
British Army
Channel 4
Chaucer Group
City of Wolverhampton Council
Coca-Cola Europacific Partners
Compass Group UK & Ireland
Dentons
DWF
E.ON UK
EG On The Move
EY
Go-Ahead London
Google
Grant Thornton UK
Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust
Historic Royal Palaces
HMRC
Howden Group Holdings

HSBC UK
IBM
Jet2
King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
KPMG UK
Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust
Lloyds Banking Group
London Ambulance Service NHS Trust
London Borough of Hackney
London Early Years Foundation
McLaren Automotive
Microsoft
Mott Macdonald
National Grid
NatWest Group
Northern Trains
Omni Grup
Samsung Electronics UK
Sandwell College
The Rotherham NHS Foundation Trust
TLT LLP
Vodafone
Wates Property Services
Weightmans

Learning Provider of the Year

Sponsored by:

Ada, The National College for Digital Skills
Blackpool and Fylde College
Brightlink Learning
Capital City College
City of Wolverhampton College
Kaplan
Learning Curve Group
Lifetime Training
Nottingham College
Performance Through People
Sandwell College
Skills4Group
Swift Childcare
The Development Manager (TDM)

University of the Year

Sponsored by:

Birmingham City University
London South Bank University
Northeastern University London
Nottingham Trent University
University of East London
University of Exeter
University of Greenwich
University of the West of England

School of the Year

Sponsored by:

Alperton Community School
Avanti House Secondary School
Eden Boys’ School, Birmingham
King Solomon Academy
La Retraite Roman Catholic Girls’ School
London East Academy
Mulberry School for Girls
St Thomas the Apostle School and Sixth Form College