NSCG Stafford College apprentice nominated as Apprentice of the Year in Staffordshire University’s Business Awards

Newcastle and Stafford Colleges Group (NSCG), Stafford College apprentice Ben Haywood has been nominated in the Apprentice of the Year category of the Staffordshire University Business Awards.

Ben, undertaking a Level 2 Hospitality apprenticeship at Feasted, has become a key member of the team and acts as a mentor for new recruits at the business based at the Spode Works in Stoke-on-Trent.

Cris Cohen, CEO of Feasted, said: “Ben is consistently exceeding all expectations of his development. Every time he reaches a plateau he is already seeking out the next step and pushing forward with excellence. Ben has clearly grown through adversity, having experienced severe anxiety at high school, he is a great example of someone who is, against the odds, building a fantastic career for themselves.”

Cris added: “Ben won’t mind it being said that when he started working in the kitchen his skill level and understanding was lower than other members of the team, but he didn’t let this phase him. Even at this early stage of his apprenticeship he is now far exceeding the standards and expectations put on him.

“In a short time, Ben has become an integral part of our team, both independently creating and collaborating on dishes for Chef’s Table, taking control of his development and telling his story on his own terms to our customers.

“What has really been a great pleasure to watch is Ben’s development as a mentor, this is an area where he really shines; passing down his positivity and wisdom to other young people. He is a Stokie through and through and takes great pride in creating dishes which celebrate the rich and diverse heritage of our city.”

Ben said: ”Throughout my development I never thought I would ever achieve anything like this I’m so happy for the nomination and I’m hoping to achieve more in my career and progress further as a chef and a person.”

We're wishing Ben the best of luck for the awards, with the winners being announced on Friday September 6 2024. 

If you are interested in becoming an apprentice or would like to finding an apprentice for your organisation with NSCG visit our Apprenticeship Hub page.