Early Careers and Apprenticeship Award
Proudly Sponsored By
More about the Early Careers and Apprenticeship Award
This award honours businesses—not training organisations—that are actively investing in the future by supporting young talent and apprenticeships. If your company is committed to developing the next generation of professionals through meaningful career opportunities, training, and mentorship, this is the category for you.
We’re looking for businesses that create robust early careers programs and apprenticeships, offering clear pathways for growth and development. Whether through hands-on learning, skills training, or mentoring, this award recognises organisations that are dedicated to nurturing future talent and helping young people build successful careers.
This award is open to any organisation from any sector and any size in the Southern region of the UK (excluding London), and South Wales.
Judging Criteria
To enter, you will be asked to submit your entry which shows how your organisation has met the criteria for this category.
The judges are looking for:
- Structured Early Careers Programs: Evidence of well-defined and implemented early careers programs or apprenticeships.
- Skills Development Opportunities: Provision of hands-on learning, technical training, and professional development for participants.
- Mentorship and Support: Effective mentorship schemes and support networks to guide apprentices and young professionals.
- Pathways for Career Progression: Clear and achievable routes for participants to progress within the organisation.
- Diversity and Inclusion: Efforts to ensure accessibility and inclusivity in early careers and apprenticeship programs, particularly for underrepresented groups.
- Partnerships with Educational Institutions: Collaboration with schools, colleges, or training providers to attract and nurture talent.
- Employee Retention and Success: Evidence of high retention rates and career success of former apprentices and program participants.
- Innovation in Training: Use of innovative methods, tools, or approaches to deliver effective training and development.
- Business Integration: Demonstration of how early careers and apprenticeships are embedded into the organisation’s long-term strategy.
- Measurable Impact: Data and metrics showing the success and outcomes of your programs.
- Recognition and Rewards: Efforts to celebrate and reward the achievements of apprentices and young employees.
- Adaptability and Continuous Improvement: Processes in place to adapt and improve programs based on feedback and evolving needs.
The application form will require you to provide some basic background to your business (if not included above).
- Sector
- Turnover (if applicable)
- Number of employees
- Purpose & Values of the business
- Mix of workforce – age and sex
- All information submitted with be confidential and only shared with the judging panel
You can apply for multiple awards
Circle2Success may contact you if we require any further supporting information or further clarification.
Why Enter?
The C2S Regional Business Awards are open to all non-members and member organisations.
Entering the C2S Regional Business Awards is a great way to recognise your staff and statistics show award-winning businesses achieve approximately 37% more sales growth.
Finalists and Winning companies will benefit from:
- Meeting our Judging Team
- Pre- and post-event marketing across our multi-platform marketing channels, including email campaigns and social media;
- Inclusion in the Event Programme
- Feature in our C2S Business Magazine
Apply for this Award or Nominate Another
How to Enter
Complete the entry form for this award, and submit before the closing date. A member of the C2S Team will be in contact to ask you to forward any supporting documents and additional relevant information to support your application.
The C2S Regional Business Awards are open to all non-members and member organisations, and operating in the Southern region (excluding London) and South Wales.
Save the Dates
Entries open
1st October 2025
Awards Breakfast
2026
Entry Closing Date
2026
Shortlisters’ celebration
2026
Judging Takes Place
2026
Finalists Drinks
2026
Awards Evening
2nd July 2026
Knowledge Exchange Forum
2026
Award Entry Guidelines
Entries which demonstrate how the organisation or individual has gone above and beyond in this category will stand a better chance of becoming shortlisted. Please ensure your entry is clearly outlined using bullet points and headings to make it easier for judges to read and analyse your entry. For some awards, we may require additional information, which a member of the C2S Team will contact you to request these.
It is free to enter the C2S Regional Business Awards, and you are welcome to apply for multiple awards. You may submit an entry for yourself, your own organisation, or nominate others. As per our terms and conditions, finalists are expected to have at least one representative from your organisation attend the Awards Evening. Sponsors are also eligible to enter the awards.
Please note: All entries are subject to our terms and conditions and judges’ decisions will be final. You can find our full Terms and Conditions here.
Apply for this Award or Nominate Another
Thank you for your interest in this award we look forward to receiving your entry. Any questions please get in touch info@c2sgrowth.com
A Message from the Category Sponsor
As the county’s go-to Training Provider of the Year, we are committed to developing home-grown talent not only in our own 800-strong workforce, but also for the region’s employers. We offer a huge range of professional and technical training programmes and apprenticeships for school leavers, adults and businesses across three campuses in Gloucester, Cheltenham and the Forest of Dean.
Learning that works is what we’re all about. We prepare learners for their careers, facilitate career progression and ensure business growth via full-time, part-time and short courses and apprenticeships in everything from engineering, cyber and green construction to business, arts and hospitality.
Our Employer Training and Apprenticeships team are agile, responsive and dedicated to supporting business needs – including filling skills gaps – and welcomes the opportunity to connect with new businesses across Gloucestershire and beyond.
