Council apprentice secures a spot at regional apprentice finals

Chloe Johnson, Rochdale Borough Council apprentice

Rochdale Borough Council apprentice, Chloe Johnson, has been named as a regional finalist in the Advanced Apprentice of the Year category at the National Apprenticeship Awards.

Chloe, a care leaver, made it through a rigorous regional judging process and was announced as a finalist following her impressive work supporting people on unemployment, low skills, mental health, substance misuse and social isolation. She has also done an incredible amount of work with children’s services on support for children in care.

Working in her apprenticeship role alongside training for a health and social care NVQ, Chloe is passionate about making a difference to people’s lives and develops trusted relationships, which enables her to support clients to change their behaviour.

She said: “I’m delighted to have been shortlisted and it was a lovely surprise. I’m really proud of what I’ve achieved through my apprenticeship.

"The council has a really good scheme which has enabled me to pursue a career I really enjoy.”

Councillor Kieran Heakin, portfolio holder for children’s services, said: “We are so proud of Chloe and it’s no surprise that she is getting even more recognition for her work, enthusiasm and professionalism. Chloe is such a fantastic role model and she has a really bright future ahead of her. We’ll all be rooting for her in these awards.”

This is the latest in a string of successes for Chloe during her apprenticeship with the council. She has already won the Rising Star award at the 2019 Greater Manchester Health and Care Champion Awards, alongside being named Young Employee of the Year at the council's ACE awards in 2018.

• www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/2/news-headlines/128982/council-worker-and-school-improvement-equalities-team-win-awards
• www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/2/news-headlines/124559/'going-above-and-beyond'-rochdale-honours-achievements-at-staff-awards

If Chloe is successful in the regional finals she will make it through to the national finals held in London later in the year.

Now in their sixteenth year, the National Apprenticeship Awards showcase the diverse and growing range of sectors engaged with apprenticeships. The awards celebrate employers who fire up their business with apprenticeships, outstanding apprentices who blaze their own trail, and individuals who champion apprenticeships with passion.

At last year’s awards the council’s apprenticeship team won two awards in recognition for their hard work and success. Out of 1,200 entries Rochdale Borough Council was one of only two local authorities to make the finals and the team ran out worthy winners in both the Macro Employer of the Year and the Recruitment Excellence awards.