The Buckinghamshire Business Awards honour those employers that have invested time, effort and resources in apprenticeships. The benefits of apprenticeships are numerous, including higher staff morale and faster growth for businesses and work-ready young people equipped to make a positive contribution to their community and their country.

Hughenden Primary School took home the accolade of 2015 Apprentice Employer of the Year and Headteacher Sarah Leighton took the chance to praise her apprentices: “We are extremely proud of all our apprentices and remain loyal to the apprenticeship training programme. Being part of their journey and watching them grow in confidence is fantastic and hugely rewarding.”

One such apprentice is Fran Brinkworth, taken on by the school as an admin assistant: “My apprenticeship at Hughenden Primary School has benefitted me in a lot of ways,” says Fran. “I am gaining knowledge and experience which I wouldn’t have learnt out of a text book and which has improved my confidence in an office environment. The apprenticeship scheme has given my career a great start and my options are still open to new possibilities.”

The decision on the coveted award came down to three finalists, with Brendan O’Sullivan Hair and Beauty and Maindec Computer Solutions pipped to the post in a very close race. 

The award was presented by Cllr. Martin Tett, Leader of Buckinghamshire County Council:  “Hughenden Primary School is doing remarkable things. The staff have an infectious enthusiasm for apprenticeships and this approach will help raise standards in education, encourage more people into teaching, support more vulnerable children so that they can stay within a mainstream education setting, and help promote apprenticeships as a career path into teaching.”

Hughenden Primary is a small, caring village school with an outstanding team of skilled and dedicated staff. The school achieves excellent academic results and prides itself on its focus on each child's academic, social and personal development. The apprentices employed at the school embrace this nurturing ethos.

If you haven’t yet relived the exciting event that was the 2015 Buckinghamshire Business Awards you can do so now, whether through pictures, video, or social media.

You can already register your interest in entering next year’s awards here >

Due to the success of this year’s awards, businesses are already signing up as sponsors for 2016. If you are interested in sponsoring next year’s awards, you can download this Sponsorship Brochure, or email awards@bbf.uk.com with any queries.