#SWACApprentice Leanne Highly Commended at National Apprenticeship Awards 2019 #InspiringApprentices

2019 has been a fantastic year at the Awards for the South West Apprenticeship Company (SWAC) with our Director Clare Vertigen winning the double award for Contribution to Apprenticeships in not only Gloucestershire but also Bristol and Bath.  But as we come towards the end of this busy year we have one more award winner to announce and we could not be prouder!

SWAC Apprentice Leanne Finch was nominated and shortlisted as a finalist for the National Apprenticeship Awards and on the day she was highly commended by the NOCN Group Award for the Intermediate Apprentice of the Year.  

Though Leanne is employed by the ATA SWAC she is hosted by Sixways Clinic in Cheltenham, she has just completed her Level 2 Business Administration Apprenticeship and has now progressed to the Level 3 qualification, both with Gloucestershire College.

This is what Leanne’s manager had to say about Leanne in her nomination:

“Leanne is such an important part of the Sixways Clinic Team. From the moment she started with us she has got along with all her colleagues and settled in so well.  Leanne was quite shy when she started here with us but her confidence has grown so much and we are all so proud of her and everything she has achieved.  Leanne is now at a level where she is training and helping her colleagues in areas they need improving in which is amazing!  She is so kind and patient with them all and they are very receptive to her helping them out.  She has done so well passing all her exams and completing modules to a high standard.  Leanne has not only won Receptionist of the Month here at Sixways she was also awarded Apprentice of the Month through SWAC.  Everyone at Sixways is so proud of Leanne and all of her achievements and we really feel that her hard work and dedication has paid off and she deserves to be Apprentice of the Year.”

Most importantly this is what Leanne has to say about her experience as an apprentice:

“Since starting this apprenticeship I have developed many skills, such as communication skills, phone skills, team working skills and confidence.  This apprenticeship has given me a lot of confidence, improved my communication greatly and has motivated me to the advanced apprenticeship.  I believe others can learn from my experience because my progress shows how an apprenticeship can build confidence and how working whilst learning can really benefit a business.”

Well done Leanne! Your hard-work and determination to succeed has really paid off and we look forward to seeing how your career progresses from here.

ABOUT SWAC: We are dedicated to the continuous development of all our apprentices. 

Through the SWAC ATA model, the employer does not directly employ the apprentice.  Instead SWAC employs the apprentice and the organisation becomes a ‘host’ employer.  SWAC then supports the host with all HR, performance management, payroll, choosing the training provider and managing the training costs for a small admin fee.  SWAC work in partnership with the training provider to ensure both the apprentice and the host are supported through the whole apprenticeship placement, mentoring the apprentice to help them reach their full potential.