Ahmed Munshi, who works for BAE Systems as a Project Management Apprentice beat off tough competition to be named the category winner and overall Apprentice of the Year at the awards ceremony held in Birmingham.
 
Commenting on his success, Ahmed said: “I am delighted to have won this award and be crowned the Engineering & Manufacturing winner. It’s an amazing feeling to be recognised for doing something I love and something that is setting me up for my future. I’m only at the start of my career, so to receive such a significant award and to be recognised in this way is a real boost.

 
“My apprenticeship is challenging but rewarding and I hope my success tonight encourages others to think about taking up the opportunity of an apprenticeship.”
 
The Asian Apprenticeship Awards celebrates the talent and diversity within British Asian communities, showcasing the commitment and hard work within the BME group while recognising the employers and learning providers who provide apprenticeship opportunities.
 
Richard Hamer, Education & Skills Director, said: “Our apprentices are the future of our business and I’m delighted Ahmed has been recognised for the significant contribution he makes to the Company, especially when up against other candidates of such high quality. It’s a true testament to his determination, passion and drive.
 
“I’m proud that our commitment to growing our own diverse talent has been recognised in the Asian Apprenticeship Awards. Our early careers programmes are helping us to recruit a more diverse workforce and we are committed to creating an inclusive culture where everyone can achieve their best.  This is essential if we are to attract and retain talented people who drive our creativity, innovation and ability to solve our customers’ complex challenges. We’re proud of the investment we make in apprenticeships and it has been great to showcase this at these prestigious awards.”
 
BAE Systems invests approximately £90m per year in education, skills and early careers activities and has around 2,000 apprentices in training across its UK businesses at any given time, with circa  95% on average securing permanent roles each year .
 
In addition to this latest win, BAE Systems was recently named #1 employer of apprentices in the UK on review website Rate My Apprenticeship and won the Macro Employer of the Year Award and the Recruitment Excellence Award at the 2018 National Apprenticeship Awards, recognising the Company’s dedication to delivering high-quality apprenticeships.