Alliance Learning Annual Awards Evening

Paul Twemlow

Nabeela Kauser

Shaun Rogerson

Daniel Bickerstaffe

Andrew Geroldi

Natalie Vaughan

Tracey Moore

Maria Holding

Reece Perkins

Andrew Miller

Alliance Learning strives to acknowledge the achievements of all our learners and have an active ongoing learner recognition programme; the annual awards evening is central to this where we recognise and celebrate the achievements of outstanding learners.
This year’s event was held on 11th March at the De Vere Hotel, The Reebok, Bolton. The event was sponsored by MBDA UK Ltd and Senior Hargreaves and proved once again to be a tremendous success with a total of 17 awards being handed out on the evening to outstanding learners that have excelled in their field.
Over 500 Alliance Learning learners from across the region were eligible for nomination and nominations were made by Alliance Learning Instructors, Learning & Development Officers and employers. The winners were selected by a panel made up of executive managers and the Alliance Learning CEO.
The event was once again hosted by GMTV News Correspondent Elaine Willcox and culminated in an after dinner speech by high profiled motivational speaker & No 1 best selling author Richard McCann. The evening was also in support of Alliance Learning’s designated charity, the Bolton Hospice, raising over £900, a record amount at this event.
The main highlights of the awards evening included:

Apprentice of the Year

The main award was the coveted Apprentice of the Year prize, this went to an individual who showed exceptional dedication and performance standards over the course of 2009. This year’s prize went to Shaun Rogerson, who also picked up the award for Electrical Engineering Apprentice for his outstanding development at Leigh based engineering firm, Travtec Ltd.
The 21 year old from Wigan, was no ordinary apprentice winner; Shaun featured in 2006’s X Factor final cut – making it to the last eight in his group and receiving great acclaim from music industry influential, Simon Cowell.
Excited about having a star in the midst, the audience subtly requested a song from Shaun who happily performed a track from his album to raise an extra bundle of cash for Bolton Hospice.

Company Award for Training & Development

Celebrating continued commitment to the training and development of employees, the Company Award for Training and Development was won by Tyco Fire & Integrated Solutions.  The company, which has sites throughout the UK and employs around 2000 employees, has acquired a wealth of expertise and experience in every type of fire protection, safety systems and control solutions for every market sector imaginable. Tyco subsequently won the award because of their continued commitment to the training and development of their employees.

The evening’s other winners were:

• Paul Twemlow, 19 from Bolton, Business Administration Apprentice of the Year,
• Nabeela Kauser, 23 from Bolton, Children’s Care Learning & Development Apprentice of the Year.
• Shaun Rogerson, 20 from Wigan, Electrical Engineering Apprentice of the Year.
• Daniel Bickerstaffe, 21 from Bolton, Fabrication & Welding Engineering Apprentice of the Year, sponsored by Senior Hargreaves
• Andrew Geroldi, 22 from Bolton, Mechanical Engineering Apprentice of the Year.
• Natalie Vaughan,22 from Wigan, Health & Social Care Apprentice of the Year.
• Tracey Moore, 41 from Bolton, Adult Learner of the Year.
• Maria Holding,36, from Leigh, E-Learning Learner of the Year.
• Sarah Burton, 26 from Radcliffe, Special Achievement Award.
• Reece Perkins, 15 from Derby High School, Bury, Engineering Academy Award.
• Lewis Buchanan, 16 from Radcliffe  Riverside High School, Engineering Diploma Award.

• Andrew Miller, 17, from Radcliffe Riverside High School, Childcare Academy Award.
• Jamie Smalley, 20 from Wigan, Engineering Programme Led Apprenticeship Learner of the Year.
• Nicola Simkins, 18 from Bolton, Business Administration / ITQ Programme Led Apprenticeship Learner of the Year.
• Chloe Ramsden, 20 from Bolton Alliance Learning Employee of the Year.

Commenting on the Awards Evening Steve Whitehead, Alliance Learning Chief Executive said:
“This year’s annual awards have been one of our most successful yet, with a record amount of money being raised for our chosen charity, The Bolton Hospice. Not only do these awards represent the continual development of our local learners but they also highlight the determination and dedication of all our staff and partner companies who work tirelessly every  day to give our students the best possible career start they can; something which I cannot praise highly enough. 
“We would like to thank to extend our thanks to our sponsors; Senior Hargreaves and MBDA UK Ltd for their magnificent support”.