Following hot on the heels of centenary celebrations and an OBE, the CEO of Eastern Education Group championed top performing apprentices during an awards night held at Edmunds Restaurant in Bury St Edmunds.
During their annual ceremony, Dr Nikos Savvas and colleagues dished out eleven accolades to students and businesses as part of a campaign called National Apprenticeship Week.
This (National Apprenticeship Week) is a celebration of the positive impact that apprenticeship qualifications have on individual’s lives (and takes place between 9-15 February 2026).
Dr Savvas, who will be travelling to Buckingham Palace later in the year to receive his OBE said: “National Apprenticeship Week is a time to celebrate the life-changing impact apprenticeships have on individuals, businesses and communities. We are proud to recognise the outstanding achievements of apprentices across a wide range of industries, from construction, education and engineering to management, science, and healthcare.
“This week, we are celebrating the dedication, resilience, and ambition of apprentices training with Eastern Education Group at West Suffolk College. Their commitment to developing their skills and building successful careers is inspiring, and they are already making a valuable contribution to their workplaces.
“Our region continues to lead the way, with growing apprenticeship numbers and strong employer commitment to developing future talent while also upskilling the existing workforce. With more than 2,000 apprentices in training and over 950 employer partners nationwide, this success reflects the strength and reach of our apprenticeship provision.
“We continue to innovate and push the boundaries of apprenticeship delivery, and the success we celebrate during National Apprenticeship Week is only possible thanks to the forward-thinking employers we are proud to work with.
“Congratulations to all winners and a big thanks also to our sponsors including our main sponsor E Rand and Sons,” he added.
Out of all the category champions, an overall winner was crowned apprentice of the year.
This accolade went to 44-year-old Laura Herrera-Martin, from Cambridge.
Laura is studying a Level 4 Associate Project Manager Apprenticeship alongside her role as a Service Improvement Manager at Cambridge City Council.
After hearing the news, Laura said she: “was absolutely over the moon!”
She also reflected on her apprenticeship experience: “It’s been a fantastic experience. I was worried at times, but the structure and organisation made things easier. Having my employer and tutor available, gave me the assurance that I was heading in the right direction.”
“The support has been excellent. My tutor was always there when I needed guidance, and that made a huge difference.”
Other success stories included 19-year-old Eva Bacon from Elmswell who overcame family loss and gained the ‘achievement in special circumstances’ award.
Eva’s mum Catriona Bacon said: “I am beyond proud of Eva. Achieving this award is a true testament to her incredible hard work, resilience, and determination. She completed her apprenticeship ahead of time, despite suffering an unimaginable loss shortly after she began — a strength and courage that inspires me more than words can say.”
And 32-year-old Holly Speight from Sheffield is a mother of one, has two jobs, is 21 months pregnant whilst studying for an apprenticeship and gained the National Apprentice of the Year prize.
The three employer awards were given to Lancaster Lodge Childcare (small employer), Taylor Made Joinery (medium employer) and Sound Norfolk & Broadland Councils (Large employer).
Two senior figures claimed prizes and they were Julie White from the Suffolk and North Essex Training Hub. Julie got the Apprenticeship Advocate of the Year and Julie Curry from the Newcastle NHS Trust Pharmacy Manufacturing Department received the Apprenticeship Mentor of the Year.
This year, E Rand and Sons were the overall sponsors of these awards, John Cummings is the Commercial Manager for E Rand and Sons and said: “We have always had a close affiliation with West Suffolk College. For example, we’ve seen former apprentices who have retired from here after fifty years service that came through the West Suffolk College system.e also think that we don’t have enough apprentices coming through into our industry, we believe strongly in these qualifications and we want to promote their benefit to others.My message to others is that the value of taking on apprentices is huge. They can help give young people direction and they bring on new talent – so I’d recommend people look into it.
For more information about apprenticeships at West Suffolk College and Eastern Education Group you can visit here: www.wsc.ac.uk/find-a-course/apprenticeships
Other sponsors for the awards were Taylor Made Joinery, Robinson Young, Form the Future, Stainless Metalcraft, Sizewell C, Ivor Searle, Mizkan, MSC and E Rand and Sons.
