Designed to recognise apprentices who demonstrate exceptional progress, commitment, and impact in the workplace, the Apprentice of the Year award celebrates the power of apprenticeships to transform lives. Our highly commended recipient for 2026 is Courtney Siddall, who completed the NCFE CACHE Level 2 Diploma for the Early Years Practitioner at Bolton College and whose journey is defined by resilience, purpose, and determination.
Distance travelled
As Courtney’s nominator Sarah Garforth, Corporate Communications Coordinator at Bolton College, explains: “Success is often measured in grades, certificates and job titles. Courtney Siddall’s success is measured in something far greater: distance travelled.”
Courtney began her apprenticeship journey from a starting point where stability and academic confidence could not be taken for granted. What she did bring with her, however, was a strong sense of purpose and a quiet determination to build a secure and meaningful future through learning and hard work.
Today, she is a qualified Early Years Practitioner in permanent full‑time employment, trusted and respected by colleagues, valued by parents and relied upon by the children in her care.
A clear sense of purpose
Courtney entered her Level 2 Early Years apprenticeship with clarity and determination. After completing a Level 1 Childcare Diploma, she independently sought and secured her apprenticeship at Teddies House Children’s Nursery. She prepared thoroughly for interview and articulated a clear motivation to build a stable, long-term career in early years education.
For Courtney, working with young children was not simply a career choice, but a deeply personal commitment to being the consistent, caring adult presence she understood first-hand to be so important. This sense of purpose has shaped both her studies and her professional practice.
Growing academically and professionally
Entering further education without GCSE qualifications, Courtney achieved Level 2 Functional Skills in English alongside her apprenticeship. This milestone marked a significant shift in her academic confidence and gave her renewed belief in her own ability to sustain learning and succeed.
She engaged fully in classroom-based learning at Bolton College, prepared carefully for assessments and showed steady improvement in her written work, professional discussion, and reflective practice. Her end-point assessment required her to evidence knowledge, skills, and behaviours under scrutiny, which she passed successfully through focus and resilience.
In the workplace, Courtney has shown herself to be dependable and emotionally aware, with a thoughtful approach to putting her learning into practice. She had a real strength in supporting children to understand and express their feelings, using calm, consistent conversations to reassure them and help them feel secure.
Over time, these strengths developed into confident professional practice, supported by a solid understanding of safeguarding responsibilities and child development theory.
During her apprenticeship, Courtney also navigated significant personal change alongside the demands of work and study. Throughout this period, she remained focused, professional and committed, maintaining high standards in both her learning and her role within the nursery.
A valued member of the team
Within Teddies House Children’s Nursery, Courtney has become a trusted and dependable member of the team. She contributes meaningfully to planning, supports structured daily routines and creates a calm, predictable environment that children respond to positively.
Colleagues describe her as composed and kind, while parents speak warmly of her professionalism and reassurance. Her progression from apprentice to permanent full-time Early Years Practitioner is a clear and well-earned demonstration of her employer’s confidence in her ability and contribution.
As Sarah Garforth notes: “Courtney has shown that potential is not dictated by circumstance. Through commitment, measurable progress and sustained contribution, she has redefined her trajectory and built a career grounded in purpose and professionalism.”
A richly deserved commendation
Courtney’s apprenticeship was not simply completed but embraced and fully utilised as a platform for personal growth, academic achievement, and long-term employability. By transforming her lived experience into empathy and purpose, she has made a lasting meaningful difference to the children in her care.
Speaking on her award, Courtney said: "‘A few years ago, I left school without qualifications and honestly didn't know what my future would look like. Since then, I've completed my apprenticeship, gained my English qualification, secured a full-time job doing something I genuinely love, and built a life I'm proud of.
"To be highly commended for Apprentice of the Year is incredibly special because it recognises not just what I've achieved, but everything it took to get here."
Courtney Siddall’s journey reflects her excellence, ongoing resilience, and her genuine impact on the children in her care – making her a thoroughly deserving highly commended recipient in the Apprentice of the Year category.
Congratulations, Courtney! To read more inspirational stories from this year’s award winners, visit our Aspiration Awards 2026 page.
