The Apprenticeships Norfolk Awards 2026 took place at Norwich City Football Club last night, celebrating apprentices and businesses from across the county, during National Apprenticeship Week 2026. Meet some of the winners here!
Thirty-year-old Mia Hutchinson triumphed at the 5th Apprenticeships Norfolk Awards ceremony – winning the most hotly-contested category of all. Mia, a former Student Veterinary Nurse at CVS UK: Larwood & Kennedy Practice and now working at Dereham Vets in Toftwood, won Apprentice of the Year, Advanced Level, Level 3, sponsored by New Anglia Advanced Manufacturing & Engineering (NAAME). Judges heard how Mia had excelled in her veterinary nurse role, achieving distinctions in every clinical exam and assignment. This was an extraordinary accomplishment, especially with national first‑time pass rates at around 50%.
She even completed her apprenticeship four months early despite significant ill health. As her former employer testified, “Mia hasn’t let her illness define her… to excel in all 12 exams is truly phenomenal.”
On receiving the award, Mia said: “I feel that before starting this job, I wouldn’t have maybe considered an apprenticeship as an older student. But you can go for it at any age.”
Matt Rowe, a Property Maintenance Apprentice with Flagship Housing won Apprentice of the Year, Intermediate Level, Level 2, sponsored by the Association of Apprentices. Judges heard how well Matt had performed in his Level 2 apprenticeship, mastering plumbing, joinery, tiling, and electrical awareness. His nominee commented that his reliability and positive attitude make him “a true ambassador for his trade”.
Matt had this message for others: “Definitely go for it. There are people out there that are willing to help you, even though you don’t think they are. I was academic but I didn’t like school, I didn’t like classrooms. I wasn’t for me and I wasn’t really good enough for uni. So, it was a trade and I couldn’t really pick which one and I ended up doing all of them and now I’m here and I still haven’t picked now. So, you’ve got to pick what you want and if that’s what you want, then you’ve just got to go for it.”
The ceremony was held during National Apprenticeship Week 2026 at Norwich City Football Club, and the headline sponsor was East of England Apprenticeship Ambassador Network.
Host Katy Dorman, Apprenticeship Strategy Manager at Norfolk County Council said: “National Apprenticeship Week shines a light on apprenticeships – highlighting the excellent opportunities for young people wishing to start a career, for employees looking to progress in their current role or retrain for a new career, or for employers needing to fill skills gaps and grow their business.”
Full list of winners:
Achievement in Exceptional Circumstances (Apprentice Award): Lucy Elliott – Aviva – Digital Project Manager Level 4
Apprenticeship Advocate Award: DWP / Kings Lynn JobCentre Plus
Apprentice of the Year – Degree Level (Level 6, 7): Francesca Hubbard – The Queen Elizabeth Hospital King’s Lynn NHS Foundation Trust – Operating Department Practitioner Level 6
Apprentice of the Year – Higher Level (Level 4, 5): Molly Shreeve – Magdalene Medical Practice – Operations/Department Manager Level 5
Apprentice of the Year – Intermediate Level (Level 2): Matt Rowe – Flagship Housing – Property Maintenance Level 2
Apprentice of the Year – Advanced Level (Level 3): Mia Hutchinson – Veterinary Nurse Level 3
Green Impact Award or Contribution to Green Apprenticeships in Norfolk: Plantscape Tree Services
Impact Award (Apprentice Award): Rebekah Girling – NNUH – Senior Leader Level 7
Large Apprenticeships Employer of the Year (250+ employees): Aviva plc
Medium sized Apprenticeships Employer of the Year (50-249 employees): Bill Cleyndert & Company
Micro and Small Sized Apprenticeships Employer of the Year (1-49 employees): Able2B Community Interest Company
Mentor or Manager of the Year: Chloe Denholm – Alan Boswell Group
For more information about Apprenticeships Norfolk visit apprenticeshipsnorfolk.org
Featured image of Mia Hutchinson by Julian Claxton Photography
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