Apprenticeship awards celebrate students, staff and employers

LJMU is celebrating the dedication and achievements of its apprentice learners and staff as part of National Apprenticeship Week 2025.

More than 100 nominations were submitted for the Health and Social Work Apprenticeship Awards, with the volume, breadth and quality of the submissions reflecting the standard of healthcare apprenticeship programmes at LJMU.

The apprentices spend 20% of their time studying for their degree at the university, with 80% spent working in healthcare settings across the Liverpool City Region and beyond.

This event was a fantastic opportunity to come together to celebrate the achievements and dedication of our apprentice learners, their workplace educators, assessors, mentors, supervisors and our LJMU staff, all whom have an integral part to play in the success of an apprentice's journey.

Joanne Fisher, Principal Lecturer & Apprenticeship Lead for the School of Nursing & Advanced Practice

Award winners

• Nursing Associate Apprentice Learner of the Year: Alexandra Androsca
• Registered Nurse Apprentice of the Year: Aderonke Abadunmi
• Advanced Clinical Practice Apprentice of the Year: Kate Rowlandson
• Social Work Apprentice of the Year: Ella Sweetin
• Specialist Community Public Health Nursing Apprentice of the Year: Josie Brady
• Most supportive apprentice of the year: Daniel Ward
• Most inspirational apprentice of the year: Sarah Hoey
• Workplace educator of the year: Grace Higson
• Employer commitment to apprenticeships: Merseycare PEFs - Claire Collister and Angela Charles
• LJMU Apprenticeship Academic of the year: Sharon Riverol

Joanne Fisher, Principal Lecturer & Apprenticeship Lead for the School of Nursing and Advanced Practice, said: “We have a strong track record of delivering quality higher education and degree apprenticeships that meet the workforce needs of our region and beyond. We have developed strong relationships with our employers and practice partners that, together, mean our apprentices receive exceptional support throughout their academic journey and in their place of work.

"Many congratulations to all our winners and nominees.”

About degree apprenticeships at LJMU

A degree apprenticeship is a route into work-based learning that enables apprentices to achieve a full degree while developing practical skills in the workplace. Employers benefit from sponsoring an apprentice by gaining a highly-skilled employee with both the academic qualifications and the relevant knowledge shaped by their on-the-job experience.

LJMU has been delivering degree apprenticeships since 2016 and currently has more than 1,200 students working across a range of sectors, including healthcare, policing, civil engineering, chartered surveying and business management.