BAME Apprenticeship Awards – Winner 😊

The JGA Group has been named Learning Provider of the Year in the BAME Apprenticeship Awards 2020. Due to Covid-19, the awards ceremony, planned to take place at the Edgbaston stadium was replaced with an awesome online extravaganza featuring a moving musical performance from Aston Performing Arts Academy. Hosts Tez Ilyas, Comedian and star of BBC hit comedy show Man Like Mobeen, and Remel London an award-winning British TV and Radio presenter and host of the Saturday Afternoon show on CAPITAL XTRA kept viewers engaged and entertained throughout the ceremony.

The awards saw more than 300 entries and JGA’s entry won for “leadership in diversity at management level,” overcoming a shortlist of providers including Aston and London Southbank universities, as well as major national and regional apprenticeship training specialists.

The judges were impressed with JGA’s work with BAME communities to “address real issues related to knife crime and county lines, removing barriers, and creating real opportunities for learning and employment”.

They wrote that JGA is leading by example, and “generates a network of inspirational role models from the BAME communities to actively promote the positive benefits of undertaking an apprenticeship.”

JGA was credited for making “real change and real impact within and by BAME communities”.

The overall Apprentice of the Year Award went to Kimmy Kimani from Milton Keynes College. A U.N Ambassador as part of the generation Z, she wishes to end world hunger and has built an online following of 150 thousand to share her message. Having started an apprenticeship unknowingly Kimmy was keen to learn more and share the misconceptions and myths about apprenticeships, showing people the true value of apprenticeships.

It wasn’t just apprentices being recognised but a number of employers were awarded for their contribution to equality, diversity and inclusion in apprenticeships. Small Employer of the Year went to multi-award-winning innovative Law firm Thrive Law and the Large Employer Award went to Great Ormond Street Hospital.

Richard Goodwin, Managing Director said,

“We are proud to win the BAME Apprenticeship Award at a time of so much change in the industry. Working with well-known clients across the country, we promote diversity and inclusion, more importantly we practice what we preach. A diverse management team is key to our innovation and growth. I would particularly like to thank Biddy Lall, Lisa MacCormac, David Warner, Jacquie Genus and Nadine Jump for their hard work and Susanne Odelina and Informa Plc who worked with us on her entry for the Apprentice of the Year.”

Olga Bottomley Head Judge of the BAME Apprenticeship Awards said,

“This year has been fantastic; the quality of the apprentices has been phenomenal, and it has been a pleasure to a part of such an amazing cause that really highlights diversity in apprenticeships.”