Celebrating local construction apprentices’ achievements
Outstanding local construction and manufacturing apprentices have been recognised for their skills and high standards demonstrated in their efforts and achievements at an awards ceremony held as part of Plymouth’s National Apprenticeship Week 2025.
The Apprentice of the Year Awards were presented jointly by Building Plymouth and the Plymouth Manufacturers’ Group (PMG), with nominations submitted by local construction and manufacturing employers and training providers, with the awards recognising sixty talented finalist and winning apprentices who were celebrated at the ceremony held at Market Hall, Devonport.
Introducing the awards ceremony, Cllr Sally Cresswell, Cabinet Member for Education, Skills and Apprenticeships at Plymouth City Council said: “It was fitting to hold this celebration in National Apprenticeship Week 2025 with the theme ‘Skills for Life,’ a good chance to reflect on how the opportunity to ‘earn while you learn’ can help both young people to start their career journey and adults to change career direction. These apprentice awards truly represent the very best of achievement in two of Plymouth’s high growth sectors: construction and the built environment, and manufacturing and engineering. This important week and our Awards today, presents us with a great platform to shine a light on the amazing opportunities that an apprenticeship brings to employers, individuals and the economy. I thank all our local employers and training providers who continue to invest and support our apprentices. I am delighted to share a personal congratulations to everyone celebrated.”
During the celebration, Oliver Preston was presented the highly respected Ron Simmonds Construction Trade Apprentice of the Year 2025 Award. Being recognised through his successful Formworks Apprenticeship Level 2, with Kier BAM JV (Joint Venture) and Greenlight Training. Oliver said: “I never expected to come out as a winner of this award! Things were a bit challenging at the beginning of my apprenticeship but both Kier/Bam JV and Greenlight worked hard for me to make sure I was able to continue on my chosen career. I really think that apprenticeships are great – the flexibility is what has allowed me to continue with formworks which I love! Doing an apprenticeship has really helped my confidence and this will help my career going forward.”
Next up, Kiya Cooke–Smith was awarded the prestigious Building Plymouth Technical Apprentice of the Year 2025 Award. Employed by Hydrock now Stantec with The University of Exeter, Kiya is undertaking a Civil Engineer Degree Apprenticeship Level 6. On receiving the award Kiya said: “It was so exciting to have won this top technical award. I am so grateful to everyone who has supported me on this apprenticeship journey. I would always recommend doing an apprenticeship to anyone, it has really opened so many opportunities for me and has been a great start to my career as a Civil Engineer. The things that I enjoy most are being a woman working in STEM and being able to inspire the next generation of girls coming into the industry. Hydrock now Stantec are a fantastic employer and allow me to make the most of all the opportunities that come my way.”
Presenting the construction apprentice awards as Building Plymouth’s Chair, David Bayliss, Regional Director at Stride Treglown said: “The 2025 Apprentice of the Year Awards are certainly a highlight event during Building Plymouth’s 10th year anniversary, I am delighted to present awards to the city’s top construction and built environment apprentices. With Plymouth facing its most ambitious capital build programme in 25 years along with the drive towards transitioning to a net zero carbon economy, we recognise through our Building Plymouth partnership how important investment in apprenticeships will be to deliver this growth locally. Huge congratulations to all the winners and finalists for our Building Plymouth awards!”
Full listing of apprentices recognised at the Apprentice of the Year Awards 2025
At the awards ceremony, these Finalist, Highly Commended and Winning apprentices were all celebrated for their success and commended for the high standards they have shown in their achievements and skills developed during their apprenticeships.
Building Plymouth Apprentices 2025
Winner – The Ron Simmonds Trade of Apprentice of the Year 2025
Oliver Preston, with Kier BAM JV (Joint Venture) and Greenlight Training undertaking a Formworks Apprenticeship Level 2
Highly Commended – The Ron Simmonds Trade Apprentice of the Year 2025
Bradlee Rodriguez-Martinez-Medway, with LTC Specialist Scaffolding Ltd and CITB for Scaffolding undertaking a Scaffolder Apprenticeship Level 2
Luke Kendall, with Plymstock Security Systems Ltd and The Focus Training Group undertaking a Fire Emergency and Security Technician Apprenticeship Level 3.
Abigail Durrell, with Eliza Tay Lady Decorators and City College Plymouth undertaking a Painter and Decorator Apprenticeship Level 2.
Finalists – The Ron Simmonds Trade Apprentice of the Year 2025
James Bamber with ME Contracting Ltd and The Focus Training Group undertaking Installation and Maintenance Electrician Apprenticeship Level 3
Devon Basten with Banks Construction and Carpentry and Skills Group undertaking a Carpentry Apprenticeship Level 2
Giles Burchell with Shared Apprenticeships South West, hosted by BuildX SW and Greenlight Training undertaking a Property Maintenance Operative Apprenticeship Level 2
Calum Burley with Lorne Stewart PLC and The Focus Training Group undertaking a Gas Engineering Apprenticeship Level 3
Freddie Chapman with Plym Roofing and Greenlight Training undertaking a Roofing (Slate and Tile) Apprenticeship Level 2
Tyler Coombes with TEC Construction and Greenlight Training undertaking a Site Carpentry Apprenticeship Level 3
Natalie Fairley with Olympus Fitout and Skills Group undertaking a Carpentry and Joinery Apprenticeship Level 3
Thomas Filewod with Ardent Carpentry Ltd and Skills Group undertaking a Carpentry and Joinery Apprenticeship Level 3
Ryan Greene with Clegg and Shortman Asphalt Co Ltd and Greenlight Training undertaking a Roofing Apprenticeship (Waterproof Membranes Installer) Level 2
Ewan Jakes with Mercury Construction Ltd and City College Plymouth undertaking a Carpentry and Joinery Apprenticeship Level 2
Caidan Jones with Phil Deare Carpentry and Skills Group undertaking a Carpentry Apprenticeship Level 3
Jude King with Upwood Loft Solutions and Skills Group undertaking a Carpentry Apprenticeship Level 2
Joseph Owen with Elm Building Services and Skills Group undertaking a Carpentry Apprenticeship Level 2
Kenzie Pearce with Lynchpin Refurbishment Ltd and Greenlight Training undertaking a Plastering Apprenticeship Level 2
Max Rooke with Holmes Plumbing and Heating and City College Plymouth undertaking a Plumbing and Domestic Heating Apprenticeship Level 3
Ben Rooney with Andy Parkinson Bricklaying and Skills Group undertaking a Bricklaying Apprenticeship Level 3
Codie Smith with Fred Champion Groundworks Ltd and Greenlight Training undertaking a Groundworks Apprenticeship Level 2
Matthew Squires with Andrew Mudge and Skills Group undertaking a Plastering Apprenticeship Level 3
Ronnie Steffens with Hallwall and Skills Group undertaking a Bricklaying Apprenticeship Level 3
Preston Stevens with D W Brickwork and Skills Group undertaking a Bricklaying Apprenticeship Level 2
Bailey Tribble with Phil Deare Carpentry and Skills Group undertaking a Carpentry and Joinery Apprenticeship Level 2
Oliver Wavish with Moorland Heating and The Focus Training Group undertaking a Gas Apprenticeship Level 3
Josh Williams with Dean Allwood Installations and Skills Group undertaking a Carpentry Apprenticeship Level 3
Alex Wilson with Energy Build Southwest Ltd and Greenlight Training undertaking a Site Carpentry Apprenticeship Level 2
Winner – Building Plymouth Technical Apprentice of the Year 2025
Kiya Cooke – Smith with Hydrock now Stantec and The University of Exeter undertaking a Civil Engineer Degree Apprenticeship Level 6
Highly Commended – Building Plymouth Technical Apprentice of the Year 2025
Luke Driver, with Vistry Group (Vistry, Cornwall Regional Office) and NHBC undertaking an HNC in Construction Apprenticeship Level 4
Jake Sutton with Shared Apprenticeships South West, hosted by BuildX(SW) with City College Plymouth, undertaking a Quantity Surveying Technician Apprenticeship Level 4
William Aspinall with Devon Contractors and Exeter College undertaking a Construction Support Technician Apprenticeship Level 3
Finalists – Building Plymouth Technical Apprentice of the Year 2025
Louie Ellison with T Clarke and Exeter College undertaking a Building Services Apprenticeship Level 4
Owen Howells with King Welsh Chartered Surveyors and City College Plymouth undertaking a Quantity Surveying Technician Level 4
Fletcher Melhuish with Vistry Cornwall (Part of Vistry Group) and University College of Estate Management undertaking a Chartered Surveyor Degree Apprenticeship level 6
Leah Smale with Porteus Groundworks and Skills Group undertaking an Office Administrator Apprenticeship Level 3
Louie Smith with Expedite Building Services Ltd and Exeter College undertaking a Higher Apprenticeship BTEC Level 4
Construction apprentices celebrating with Building Plymouth Chair David Bayliss and the Building Plymouth team: Emma Hewitt, Morven Maclean and Gareth Geen.