This month, we proudly celebrated "National Apprenticeship Week" by bringing colleagues together to recognise the achievements of our apprentices and mentors at our annual Apprenticeship Awards Ceremony. The event took place at our headquarters on Friday 13 February 2026 and was a fantastic opportunity to highlight the impact of our Apprenticeship program.
The ceremony allowed us to recognise the dedication, progress and hard work shown by apprentices across all four year groups. It was also an important moment to thank the mentors and wider teams who support them throughout their journey, helping them develop valuable skills and build strong foundations for their future careers.
The event was led by our HR and Training Director, Ian Mallabone, and Technical Trainer and HR Supervisor, Deana White, with colleagues from across Nylacast coming together to show their support.
One of the highlights of the ceremony was presenting the Apprentice of the Year award to Rowan Walker. Rowan has done exceptionally well throughout his (Level 3 - Engineering Machining Technician) Apprenticeship, which he successfully completed in 2025 with a Distinction. This achievement reflects both the high standard of his college work and his strong dedication to the program. Over the course of his apprenticeship, Rowan has also grown significantly in confidence and personal development. We are proud that he is now fully employed with us, continuing to apply and build on the skills he has developed.
We were also proud to present the Apprentice Mentor of the Year award to Chris Foster, Nylacast Group Operations Manager. Chris was invaluable in helping to mentor the Team Leader apprentices through the final stages of their course, all of whom passed and graduated in 2025.
We are incredibly proud of everything our apprentices and teams have achieved and look forward to continuing to support their development and success.
If you are interested in building “skills for life” through a hands-on apprenticeship, our upcoming Open Days will be a great opportunity to learn more about what we offer. We would be delighted to welcome you and help you take the first step in your career!