Published: Tue 08 Oct 2024 at 15:23
Jet2.com and Jet2holidays have picked up three awards at the Yorkshire and Humber Apprenticeship and Skills Awards 2024 and have progressed into the finals in this year’s National Awards.
Now in its 21st year, the National Apprenticeship and Skills Awards recognise and reward the achievements of exceptional apprentices, apprenticeship champions and employers from across the region.
The 2024 awards mark the first year of recognising wider skills development pathways supported by dedicated employers, with the award-winning tour operator and leading leisure airline taking home the brand-new award for Large Employer of the Year as well as Katie Rankin, Emerging Talent & Careers Manager, being awarded the inaugural Skills Champion of the Year award.
At the regional awards ceremony, held at the Double Tree by Hilton York on 2nd October, Andrew Loy (General Manager of Engineering, Safety and Compliance) also took home the award for Degree Apprentice of the Year in recognition of his passion for promoting apprenticeships alongside his job role and studies.
In addition to these prestigious accolades, apprentice Alfie Mower was presented the Highly Commended award in the Intermediate Apprentice of the Year category, with Leo Girdlestone also reaching the finals for Higher Apprentice of the Year.
As a result of being selected as regional winners from hundreds of applicants, Katie and Andrew have both been automatically shortlisted for the National Apprenticeship and Skills Awards finals, taking place on 27th November in London, as well as Jet2.com and Jet2holidays in the Large Employer category.
This year marks the third consecutive year that colleagues from Jet2.com and Jet2holidays have been awarded an accolade at the Yorkshire and Humber Apprenticeship and Skills Awards. Former apprentices Isaac Naylor and Connor Ward both received the Advanced Apprentice of the Year award in 2022 and 2023 respectively and are enjoying their new roles in the company since successfully passing their apprenticeships.
Reflecting on his achievement, Andrew said: “I feel extremely proud to have made it this far in the awards and would like to thank my colleagues at Jet2 who have supported me throughout the completion of my degree apprenticeship alongside my job role. My apprenticeship journey has been an incredibly rewarding experience, and I am determined to continue to be an advocate for apprenticeships as an important development tool for all career stages.”
Katie added: “I’m incredibly proud of everyone who has made it the regional finals. It has been fantastic to see so many Jet2.com and Jet2holidays colleagues being recognised. Winning the Large Employer of the Year award is testament to how everyone works as one team to support apprentices throughout their journey. I am personally honoured to have won the Skills Champion of the Year award, and to have had the opportunity to share this moment with my colleagues made it even more special.”
Currently, Jet2.com and Jet2holidays have over 200 apprentices on-programme in 40 different apprenticeship standards across the business in HR, Procurement, Engineering, Customer Service, Ground Operations, Marketing, IT, Finance, Operations Control and more. With qualifications ranging from Level 2-7, all apprentices receive further internal business development, in addition to a course delivered by a nationally recognised training provider, with a view to progress into a permanent role upon successful completion.
In addition to the diverse range of opportunities available for new people entering the industry age 16+, Jet2.com and Jet2holidays are supporting existing colleagues to progress their career through its apprenticeship programme.
For further information on Jet2.com and Jet2holidays’ apprenticeship programmes, please visit https://jet2careers.com/emerging-talent-careers/
Pictured left to right:
Alfie Mower, Warehouse Operative Apprentice
Katie Rankin, Emerging Talent and Careers Manager
Niki Maddock General Manager - Learning and Development
Sarah Hebden, Emerging Talent and Careers Coordinator
Andrew Loy, General Manager - Engineering Safety.
