21 November 2025
A Wolverhampton apprenticeship team has won a Black Country award for offering an ‘exemplary programme’ to rising young stars.
The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust team was named Large Employer of the Year at the Black Country Apprenticeship Awards 2025 last night, organised by the Express & Star in partnership with The Ladder for the Black Country.
Judges said the Trust offers “an exemplary apprenticeship programme setting a national benchmark for impact and excellence” adding that its “strong evidence, clear metrics, and inspiring case studies reflect outstanding investment and employer leadership”.
The event, hosted by broadcaster Richard Williams, shone a spotlight on the rising stars from across different sectors of industry, ranging from construction and trades to healthcare, tech and hospitality firms, while the industry’s very best training providers were also recognised.
Parveen Kumar, Apprenticeships and Workforce Development Manager, said: “This is a fantastic achievement and recognition for the Trust’s Apprenticeship Team and the Trust itself including the managers, departments and training providers who we work in partnership with to make apprenticeships a success.
“This award recognises our standing as a leading employer, celebrating the strength of our programmes, our commitment to staff development, and the outstanding apprentice experience we offer.
“Our apprenticeship programmes underpin workforce development, integrating lower and higher level apprenticeships, delivering meaningful impact across diverse roles, supporting sustainable skills growth and excellence in healthcare delivery.
“The apprenticeship programmes span a wide range of clinical and non-clinical professions, offering qualifications from Level 2 to Level 7, ensuring access to both entry-level and advanced career pathways.
“The apprenticeships are strategically aligned with our organisational goals of talent attraction, staff retention, and addressing critical skills gaps. Working closely with high-quality training providers, we’ve built a strong partnership infrastructure for continuous workforce development.
“This collaborative model ensures apprentices receive not only rigorous training but also the support needed for positive outcomes—both professionally and personally.”
Mark Drew, Express & Star Editor in chief, said: “Young people are often unfairly stereotyped, yet so many are working hard to shape their futures.
“These awards shine a spotlight on those making remarkable strides and show that we see and celebrate them.
“Apprenticeships are a powerful example of this, proving that learning and earning can go hand in hand. By blending education with real-world experience, apprentices are becoming adaptable, innovative professionals, closing skills gaps and strengthening our local economy.
“They stand proudly between both worlds — education and work — and are breaking barriers, building careers and driving progress.”