Jill Whittaker Takes Top Honour at the 2024 Multicultural Apprenticeship Awards

It was a night to remember at Birmingham’s NEC as over 800 guests gathered to applaud the UK’s best apprentices and the organisations championing their success at the 9th annual Multicultural Apprenticeship Awards. Hosted by The Pathway Group in collaboration with Pearson, the event celebrated those making a real difference in the world of apprenticeships.

The awards recognise the talent and diversity within Further Education, honouring those who work hard to overcome adversity and achieve their goals through apprenticeships. Following a record-breaking number of nominations, this year’s celebration was bigger than ever, with 30 awards for outstanding apprentices, employers, learning providers, and champions in the sector recognised for their achievements.

The spotlight shone brightly on Jill Whittaker, our Executive Chair, as she received the prestigious Overall Contribution to Apprenticeships award! With over 25 years of dedication to apprenticeships, Jill has made it her mission to open up learning opportunities for everyone, regardless of their background or needs. Co-founding HIT Training Ltd in 2006 as an independent training provider, her vision and commitment has helped countless individuals from diverse backgrounds access life-changing career pathways.

With apprentices, training providers, and employers gathered under one roof, the evening celebrated their achievements and championed the awards’ mission: to honour the strength, diversity and resilience within Further Education and to celebrate those breaking down barriers through apprenticeships.

Addressing the audience towards the close of the event, Founder of The Multicultural Apprenticeship Awards and CEO of Pathway Group, Safaraz Ali, said: “This year our awards have once again seen a substantial uptake in the quantity of nominations submitted, and having such a wealth of dedication and talent gathered here is an inspiring reflection of that. A warm thank you to everyone who has contributed to making this event an extraordinary success.”

Congratulations to Jill and all of this year’s winners for their incredible contributions!