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Josie wins Business Apprentice of the Year award
Friday 9 February 2024
We are proud to share the news that Josephine, one of our Business Apprentices, won Make UK’s ‘Business Apprentice of the Year: Final Year’ for the Midlands & East region at the end of 2023 and went on to be runner-up in the national final, announced early this year.
The award is for business/commercial apprentices in the final year of their apprenticeship with engineering/manufacturing firms. Judges were looking for how they had made the most of the training and development opportunities presented to them throughout their apprenticeship programme.
Reacting to her award win, Josephine – who is known to colleagues as Josie - told us, “I feel like this has been the perfect end to my time as an apprentice. It’s a real testament, not only to me but to the amazing apprenticeship scheme MBDA offers. I was lucky enough to win Make UK’s Business Apprentice: Rising Star national award during the early stages of my apprenticeship. So, to be able to come back at the end of my programme and win another is a real full circle moment.”
Evidencing her apprenticeship achievements, growth and development opportunities, Josie submitted a piece reflecting some of her work that she was proud of.
“I made a visual mood board of all of my achievements that included photos from my time with the ‘Robot Rumble’ and quotes of positive feedback I’d received from my placements,” she said. After being shortlisted, Josephine had to get through an interview about her entry.
Having got through that and won, Josie acknowledged she couldn’t have done it alone. “I was shocked when they called out my name as I didn’t feel confident after my interview! The win was incredible, especially with so many friendly faces joining me on the night. They have been a huge part of my apprenticeship journey. The win wasn’t just mine. It was for all of the stakeholders who have made it possible. Managers, colleagues, other apprentices, the MBDA ECP [Early Careers Programme] team, and the University of Hertfordshire.”
Having won the regional award, Josie went through to the national against the other regional winners. At a Gala Award Dinner, Josie was announced as runner-up. Well done Josie!
Josie has now completed her apprenticeship and now works in our Programmes Directorate.