Local and national businesses have once again come out in force to support the event, with Hertzian returning as Headline Sponsor along with Award Partners Cornwall Manufacturers Group and Media Partner Business Cornwall, with Imerys Minerals once again sponsoring the glittering trophies and Boosters supporting commemorative gift bags for every guest, alongside a valued line-up of category sponsors.
A brand-new Small Employer of the Year Award has been introduced for 2027 following the overwhelming popularity of the employer categories among Cornwall’s business community. The new category will offer Cornwall’s small and micro businesses, with less than 50 employees, a platform to celebrate their apprenticeship success alongside Medium and Large Employer of the Year categories.
The new category joins the inspirational Rising Star Apprentice of the Year award that was introduced in 2026 and proved hugely popular in celebrating the exceptional achievement of apprentices aged 21 and under.
The ever-popular and emotional Apprentice Achiever of the Year category returns to recognise apprentices who have overcome personal challenge or adversity to achieve in their studies and career alongside the coveted Cornwall’s Apprentice of the Year award that will crown Cornwall’s top apprentice across all sectors. The 2027 Awards will also continue the search for Cornwall’s best lecturers, training advisors, colleagues and managers through the highly regarded Mentor of the Year category.
Nominations are now being accepted online for all 16 categories at www.truro-penwith.ac.uk/CAA, where information on all the categories, eligibility and the awards evening is also available.
The simple nomination process requires a short 150-200-word explanation for each piece of judging criteria, highlighting why the nominee is an example of excellence with over 40 nominees due to be shortlisted and offered a complimentary ticket to the awards evening at the Eden Project. Nominations close at 4pm on Monday 19 October 2026.
Any Cornwall-based apprentice, employer or mentor is eligible for nomination, regardless of their college or training provider, provided they have been involved in apprenticeship training since June 2025.
Holly Doran from the Eden Project was crowned Cornwall’s Apprentice of the Year 2026 after demonstrating unparalleled dedication to her craft. Holly lived in a self-renovated van to avoid a long commute from Plymouth, allowing her to submit work months in advance and lead a team creating an exhibit for the Cornwall Spring Flower Show that officials said met Chelsea Flower Show standards. Holly was also named Land-Based Apprentice of the Year in 2026.
Tamsin Allen, from Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust, won the 2026 Apprentice Achiever of the Year and Digital & IT Apprentice of the Year awards having transitioned from a 13-year clinical career to a digital role after being diagnosed with a connective tissue disease. Balancing chronic illness and motherhood, she led a pilot project that reduced patient stays and saved the Trust £75,000.
Ella Bardgett from Cormac became the first-ever winner of the Rising Star Apprentice of the Year award in 2026, also collecting Construction & Trade Apprentice of the Year. She was recognised for demonstrating maturity beyond her years, independently managing complex projects, liaising with planning coordinators and showing a strong commitment to sustainability and proactive problem-solving.
Employer success stories shone through in 2026. Cornwall Group picked up Large Employer of the Year with over 20% of its employees on an apprenticeship journey, resulting in innovations that have cut paper waste by 60%. SME Employer of the Year was presented to Hiyield, praised for its ‘talent pipeline’ approach that treats apprentices as full team members with dedicated one-to-one mentoring from day one.
Headline Sponsors Hertzian return in 2027 and will present the coveted Cornwall’s Apprentice of the Year Award. Christopher Weavill, Co-Founder and CEO at Hertzian, commented: “At Hertzian, we’re proud to sponsor the Cornwall Apprenticeship Awards because we strongly believe in recognising and supporting the exceptional talent being developed across Cornwall. We’re a people-first organisation and we know apprenticeships help people build practical skills, confidence and long-term careers. Supporting initiatives such as this reflects our ongoing commitment to nurturing future talent and contributing to the continued growth of Cornwall’s thriving business and technology sectors.”
Carl Riding, Principal at Truro and Penwith College said: “We are thrilled to open nominations for the eleventh annual Cornwall Apprenticeship Awards. I thoroughly enjoyed attending the ten-year anniversary Awards last year and am looking forward to returning as Principal in 2027. The College is incredibly proud to host the Awards on behalf of Cornwall’s training providers and employers, and of the high regard in which the event is held across the county. We look forward to celebrating the exceptional apprentices, employers and mentors who make such a valuable contribution to Cornwall’s communities and economy on Friday 05 February.”
Nominations for the Awards are being accepted online where more information about the event and nomination process is available: www.truro-penwith.ac.uk/CAA. Anyone wishing to submit a nomination can also email nominations@truro-penwith.ac.uk for guidance.
