A Decade of Impact: The Multicultural Apprenticeship Awards 2025 Celebrates Excellence and Diversity in London

Over 780 guests gathered at the Hilton London Metropole to mark a significant milestone – the 10th anniversary of the Multicultural Apprenticeship Awards.

Founded by Pathway Group in partnership with Pearson, these awards have grown into a vital platform for recognising talent, celebrating inclusion, and promoting social mobility through apprenticeships. With over 500 nominations this year and more than 3,000 apprentices engaged over the last decade, the Awards are a powerful movement changing the narrative around apprenticeships.

This year’s event saw an unprecedented number of finalists and a record level of engagement:

• 152 Apprentices
• 44 Employers
• 14 Learning Providers
• 8 Universities
• 8 Schools

Held in London for the first time, the event symbolised the Awards’ growing national reach. With a theme of “Resilience”, the evening was co-hosted by Santina Bunting, 2024 Young Professional of the Year, alongside presenter Tommy Sandhu.

Safaraz Ali, Founder of the Multicultural Apprenticeship Awards and Co-Founder & CEO of Pathway Group, said:

“Ten years ago, we began with one truth: more must be done. Apprenticeships aren’t just about starting a career – they’re about transforming lives. We’ve built this movement on real stories, real impact, and the firm belief that opportunity belongs to everyone. We are here to champion not just apprentices, but those who nurture and empower them. This is how we build a better future.”

Ali added,

“Let’s build an ecosystem that reflects the UK we aspire to be – inclusive, united, and brimming with opportunity for all.”

WINNERS OF THE MULTICULTURAL APPRENTICESHIP AWARDS 2025

Apprentice of the Year 2025 (sponsored by Pearson)

• Isha Ahmed – WW+P Architects (London South Bank University)

Commitment to Apprenticeships (sponsored by Multicultural Apprenticeship & Skills Alliance)

• Dan Howard – Lifetime Training
• Lucy Hunte – NHS England

Overall Contribution to Apprenticeships (sponsored by Pathway Group)

• Kirstie Donnelly MBE – CEO, City & Guilds

Overall Commitment to Diversity in Apprenticeships (sponsored by Pathway Group)

• Sharon Blyfield OBE – Coca-Cola Euro Pacific Partners

Accounting & Finance (sponsored by Kaplan Financial)

• Apprentice: Ahmed Ali – Lloyds Banking Group (Kaplan)
• Employer: Chaucer Group

Management & Professional Services (sponsored by Mindful Education)

• Apprentice: Martin Lin – KPMG (BPP)
• Employer: Vialto Partners

Legal Services (sponsored by City Century)

• Apprentice: Amina Batool – TLT LLP (BPP)

Charity, Voluntary & Public Services (sponsored by NCFE)

• Apprentice: Iqra Jaffary – Broxtowe Borough Council (Damar Training)
• Employer: Skills and Education Group

Health, Medical & Social Care (sponsored by Royal Navy)

• Apprentice: Aliea Mahmood – Great Ormond Street Hospital (Cambridge Spark)
• Employer: AstraZeneca

Construction Services (sponsored by Severn Trent)

• Apprentice: Isha Ahmed – WW+P Architects (LSBU)
• Employer: BAM UK & Ireland

Engineering & Manufacturing (sponsored by JTL Training)

• Apprentice: Prithvi Ramesh – Rolls-Royce (UWE Bristol / Weston College)
• Employer: E.ON UK

Digital & Technology (sponsored by BT Group)

• Apprentice: Efan Mutembo – Worldline UK&I (QA)
• Employer: Capgemini

Creative, Media & Marketing (sponsored by Occupational Awards Limited)

• Apprentice: Adesewa Adetoro – Microsoft (QA)
• Employer: BBC

Retail, Hospitality & Tourism (sponsored by Lifetime Training)

• Apprentice: Zain Ali Khan – McDonald’s (Manchester Metropolitan University)
• Employer: B&Q

Transport & Logistics (sponsored by British Army)

• Apprentice: Yoosuf Riyaldeen – Amazon (University of Roehampton / QA)
• Employer: Royal Mail

Intermediate Apprentice of the Year (sponsored by Skills & Education Group)

• Level 2: Christian Chukwuemeka Ejimadu – Amazon (Qualitrain)
• Level 3: Simona Olok Kweya – NatWest Group (BPP)

Judges’ Choice (sponsored by Lloyds Banking Group)

• Winner: Nuzha Noukri – Visa (QA)

Small, Medium Employer of the Year (sponsored by Amazing Apprenticeships)

• Winner: Mahirs Experience

Large Employer of the Year (sponsored by NOCN Group)

• Winner: Compass Group UK & Ireland

Learning Provider of the Year (sponsored by AELP)

• Small: Blackpool and The Fylde College
• Large: HIT Training

University of the Year (sponsored by AstraZeneca)

• Winner: University of Wolverhampton

School of the Year (sponsored by City & Guilds)

• Winner: Alperton Community School

The Multicultural Apprenticeship Awards continue to grow in scale and influence, reaffirming their commitment to equity, visibility, and excellence across the UK apprenticeship landscape.