Apprentice of the Year 2026 – Winners Announced

We are delighted to announce the winners of the PPMA Apprentice of the Year 2026 Programme, recognising the outstanding achievements of apprentices across the public sector.

  • Level 2–3 Winner: Fazal Mehmood, Salford City Council
  • Level 4–7 Winner: Harvey Cook, Lincolnshire County Council

Both winners have demonstrated exceptional dedication, talent, and impact within their roles, showcasing the strength of apprenticeships in developing the future public sector workforce.

Congratulations to our winners and to all finalists (detailed below) for their hard work and achievements.

Level 2–3 Finalists

  • Elise Leonard, Wigan Council

  • Fazal Mehmood, Salford City Council

  • Melanie Quaile, Buckinghamshire Council

  • Samia Alshamah, Islington Council

  • Sarah Armour, Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council

Level 4–7 Finalists

  • Harvey Cook, Lincolnshire County Council

  • Phoebe Hope-Ashurst, Central Bedfordshire Council

  • Ryan Ansell, Stevenage Borough Council

  • Simone Baddeley, Lincolnshire County Council

  • Stacey Ryder, Central Bedfordshire Council

While only a select number were progress to the final stage, all participants demonstrated impressive skill, commitment and determination throughout their journey, a significant achievement in itself.

We hope the experience has been both rewarding and enriching, providing valuable insights and supporting their ongoing personal and professional development. We would like to extend our sincere thanks to all participants for making this such a memorable and inspiring programme.

Discover more about this years programme

The 2026 PPMA Apprentice of the Year event celebrates the full spectrum of Apprenticeships and is designed to stretch, motivate, and inspire you. Throughout the programme, you’ll take part in a range of development activities that will challenge your personal qualities while helping you build confidence, resilience, and self-belief.

We hope your participation encourages you to achieve even more than you thought possible in your career.

At the PPMA, we are committed to creating an environment where talent can shine. We want everyone to have opportunities to learn, grow, and push their boundaries. By taking part in this programme, your organisation is recognising that you have the potential, skills, and qualities to become a future leader in the Public Sector. Now it’s up to you to make the most of this unique experience—and to nurture the networks you build, both online and offline, in the months and years ahead.

This event is about identifying and showcasing the immense breadth and depth of emerging public sector talent. It is open to all apprentices across every area of public service.

To reflect the wide range of apprenticeship levels, we offer two award categories:
• Intermediate/Advanced Apprenticeships (Levels 2 & 3)
• Higher/Degree Apprenticeships (Levels 4 to 7)

What our participants say

Hear directly from apprentices who have taken part in the programme and the impact it’s had on their confidence, development, and careers.

“This course has relit what felt like an extinguished confidence. I’ve felt a whole change of mindset from negative to positive. It was a safe space to challenge myself and express myself without fear of judgment. The tools I’ve learned will stay with me throughout my career.”

“It wasn’t what I expected – I thought it would focus on skills and roles, but it was really about us as people. It helped me find my voice and understand how to use it to make a real impact.”

“Listening to everyone’s stories has been so inspiring, and it helped me build genuine connections with people I may never have otherwise met. I’m genuinely grateful for the whole experience.”

“It pushed me out of my comfort zone, and I expect it was the same for most of us, but we had fun, learned from each other, and grew in confidence along the way.”

Who can take part?

Our programme is open to all apprentices working within public service organisations, regardless of age, background, or experience. We actively welcome participants from across the sector.

Our most recent programme was hugely oversubscribed, with apprentices joining us from the NHS, Local Government, and Central Government.

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.How does the competition work?

To take part, simply download and  complete the application form provided below and email it to [email protected] by 5pm on Thursday 29 January 2026.

After the deadline, we will carry out a shortlisting process. Successful applicants will be notified and invited to attend an assessment as part of the programme.

Master Class and Assessment

Successful applicants will be invited to take part in a two-day online programme, which includes a masterclass and an assessment involving individual activities, group work, and presentations.

Day One – Masterclass
The first day is a masterclass in advanced communication techniques and will take place virtually on Wednesday 11 February 2026. You will also receive additional guidance, support, and coaching to help you prepare for the remainder of the programme.

Day Two – Assessment
The assessment will take place virtually on Monday 16 or Tuesday 17 March 2026. We run the assessment on two separate days to accommodate participant numbers.

Following the assessments, finalists will be chosen and invited to present to the Judging Panel virtually on Friday 27 March 2026.

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Winner announcement

A final online session will be held virtually on Friday 27 March 2026 where the overall winners for both award categories will be announced.

The winners will then be celebrated at the PPMA Annual Conference during our Annual Charity Dinner and Awards Evening on Thursday 23 April at The Hilton Birmingham Metropole, NEC. 

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Important dates

  • 11 February – Day One Masterclass (online). Instructions for joining will be sent to all successful applicants.

  • 16 / 17 March – Day Two Assessment (online). Finalists selected.

  • 27 March – Finalists meet the Judging Panel online. Winners announced.

  • 23 April (evening) – Winners celebrated at the PPMA Annual Conference during the Annual Charity Dinner and Awards event.

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.Price (+VAT)

  • £170 per person – Member rate

  • £215 per person – Non-member rate

Payment can be made via the website using the payment button at the top left of the page, or you can request an invoice by contacting [email protected].

APPLICATIONS NOW CLOSED

Past Programmes

If you have any questions, do not hesitate to contact [email protected].

Here is a fabulous taster from our previous Apprentice of the Year Programme finalists

We are always extremely proud of everyone who takes part in our development programmes and find watching them grow and develop hugely inspiring. You can watch personal brand videos from our past finalists below and see how they have showcased their skills, achievements, and journey

What previous applicants of the programme say…

‘This has been a life changing experience and will stay with me forever!’

‘It’s great to see the wide range of talent and how much people have improved  over the programme’

‘The Confidence I have developed and gained, will only serve to drive me on in my career’

‘Thank you so much for a fantastic and inspiring few days’