Celebrating Success at the South Yorkshire Apprenticeship Awards 2026

We’re incredibly proud to celebrate success at this year’s South Yorkshire Apprenticeship Awards 2026, with both our apprentice and our employer partner recognised for their outstanding achievements.

Health and Public Service Apprentice of the Year

Huge congratulations to Kirsty Wright of The Rotherham NHS Foundation Trust, who was named Health and Public Service Apprentice of the Year.

Kirsty’s achievement is a testament to her hard work, commitment, and passion for making a difference within the healthcare sector. This well-deserved recognition highlights the incredible contribution apprentices make to vital public services.

'This win wouldn’t have been possible without my CT Skills family. Thank you so much for all the amazing support and guidance from start to finish.'

— Kirsty Wright

Read more about Kirsty’s journey with CT Skills here.

Large Employer of the Year

We’re also delighted to celebrate The Rotherham NHS Foundation Trust, winners of the Large Employer of the Year Award.

Having worked closely with the Trust over many years, it’s fantastic to see their continued investment in apprenticeships and workforce development recognised on such a prestigious stage. Their commitment to nurturing talent and supporting career progression truly sets them apart.

'We’ve partnered with CT Skills for nearly 7 years, and they’ve supported over 100 members of our workforce to complete a Business Admin, Team Leader, or Operations Manager apprenticeship.

The quality of communication and processes provided is excellent at all times. As an employer, we’re kept up to date throughout all the apprenticeships, and each apprentice feels extremely comfortable and supported.

Each apprenticeship has helped impact the performance of our services as an NHS Trust. Every individual has seen many benefits to their own knowledge and skills while carrying out important roles across the Trust. We have found the investment has improved staff retention and provided personal opportunities to progress.

By recruiting new apprentices, we’ve been able to support local young people into roles within the NHS. Some of these roles have been hard to fill, so an apprenticeship has given us a great solution to these challenges.'

— Graham Travis, The Rotherham NHS Foundation Trust

A Celebration of Apprenticeships

The event was a brilliant celebration of apprenticeship success across South Yorkshire, bringing together inspiring individuals and organisations who are shaping the future workforce. We’d also like to extend a special thank you to Roundabout Ltd Homeless Charity for sponsoring the awards and helping make such an uplifting and meaningful evening possible.

At CT Skills, we’re incredibly proud to work alongside dedicated employers like The Rotherham NHS Foundation Trust and to support apprentices like Kirsty as they grow, succeed, and make a real difference in their industries.

‘Kirsty’s award is a brilliant and thoroughly deserved recognition of the way she has applied herself, grown in confidence, and brought real care and professionalism to her role. What stands out is not just that she has completed an apprenticeship, but that she has used it to become even better at supporting the people and services around her.

CT Skills are very proud to have played a part in that, but credit also belongs to The Rotherham NHS Foundation Trust. They have created the kind of environment where people are encouraged, challenged, and given the backing to develop in a natural and authentic way. That combination of Kirsty’s unwavering commitment and the Trust’s genuine investment in its staff is exactly why this award feels so special to everybody involved.’

— Alex Ford, CEO at CT Skills

Congratulations once again to all the winners and finalists, your achievements not only reflect your own hard work and determination but also highlight the life-changing impact apprenticeships continue to have across our communities. We look forward to seeing what you accomplish next.