The winners of the 2026 Northern Ireland Apprenticeship Awards have been announced at a ceremony in Belfast, recognising exceptional apprentices, employers and mentors who are shaping the region’s workforce. The annual awards, hosted by the Department for the Economy at the Titanic Hotel on 25 March 2026, highlight the growing importance of vocational training as Northern Ireland seeks to address skills shortages and boost economic productivity.
2026 Award Winners
The ceremony honoured individuals and organisations across seven categories, showcasing the breadth of industries now offering apprenticeship pathways from advanced manufacturing and hospitality to public services.
- Apprentice of the Year: Paula Bamford, a fabrication and welding apprentice employed at Caterpillar and studying at Northern Regional College
- Higher Level Apprentice of the Year: Grace Dugan, a culinary arts apprentice employed at Culloden Estate and Spa and studying at South Eastern Regional College
- Public Sector Apprentice of the Year: Jacob Meekin, employed at Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council and studying at the College of Agriculture, Food and Rural Enterprise (CAFRE)
- Mentor of the Year: Brian Welsh, Harland and Wolff (part of Navantia UK), nominated by Northern Regional College
- Small to Medium Enterprise of the Year: Sleepy Hollow Group in partnership with Belfast Metropolitan College
- Large Employer of the Year: CB Bell in partnership with Impact Training
- Public Sector Employer of the Year: Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) in partnership with Belfast Metropolitan College
Minister Highlights Economic Role
Economy Minister Dr Caoimhe Archibald, who attended the ceremony, praised the finalists for their contribution to Northern Ireland’s economic development. She emphasised that apprenticeships are vital for maintaining competitiveness in the global market.
“Apprenticeships are central to building the skilled workforce our economy needs to grow, to innovate and to stay competitive on a global stage.
“Today is a celebration of excellence. It is about recognising the individuals and organisations who are not only transforming their own futures, but also shaping the future of our economy. Through their hard work, creativity and commitment, they leave a lasting legacy of skills, productivity and economic benefit.”
Programme Scale and Pathways
The Department for the Economy currently supports more than 16,000 apprentices across Northern Ireland through various programmes. These include almost 200 distinct pathways ranging from traditional craft apprenticeships in joinery and plumbing to emerging high-tech fields such as cybersecurity, food innovation and FinTech management.
The awards come amid continued government efforts to expand vocational training. The “All Age Apprenticeships” initiative, introduced in 2023, has the potential to create an additional 1,700 apprenticeship opportunities annually for those aged 25 and above, opening doors for career changers and mature learners.
Challenges and Data Gaps
While the awards celebrate individual excellence, recent official statistics highlight ongoing structural challenges within the apprenticeship system. According to data published by NISRA in January 2026, males account for 72% of all apprentices, with the gender imbalance most pronounced at Level 2/3 where 96% of participants are male. This disparity raises questions about the effectiveness of outreach efforts to attract women into technical and trade roles.
Furthermore, despite the success stories celebrated at the Titanic Hotel, an estimated 16,000 young people aged 16 to 24 were classified as not in education, employment or training (NEET) between July and September 2025. This figure suggests that apprenticeship programmes, while growing, have not yet reached significant portions of the youth population who might benefit from structured vocational training. Official statistics indicate overall participation stood at 13,324 as of October 2025, illustrating the scale of the challenge relative to the number of young people outside education or employment.
Transparency gaps remain regarding the selection process; details on judging criteria and nomination volumes were not disclosed, limiting assessment of the applicant pool’s competitiveness and diversity.
Questions for Stakeholders
- How will the Department for the Economy address the persistent gender imbalance, given that males currently comprise 72% of apprenticeship participants?
- What specific outreach strategies are being developed to connect with the 16,000 young people currently classified as NEET and convert them into apprenticeship starts?
- Given the success of Higher Level Apprenticeships demonstrated by winners like Grace Dugan, should funding priorities shift toward Level 4-5 qualifications rather than traditional Level 2-3 frameworks?
- How can smaller employers be better supported to overcome administrative barriers and offer more apprenticeship places, particularly in rural areas?
- With Navantia UK investing heavily in shipbuilding apprenticeships at Harland and Wolff, how will the Department ensure skills development keeps pace with major infrastructure projects like the Fleet Solid Support programme?
Looking Ahead
The 2026 awards underscore the value of work-based learning to Northern Ireland’s economy, particularly as sectors such as advanced manufacturing, hospitality and public services face ongoing recruitment challenges. As the Executive continues to implement the All Age Apprenticeships policy, observers will be watching whether next year’s statistics show improved diversity in participation and a reduction in youth NEET figures. Information on apprenticeship opportunities is available through NI Direct.