HUNDREDS of guests gathered at the Eden Project to celebrate Truro and Penwith College’s tenth Cornwall Apprenticeship Awards.

The landmark Tin Anniversary event recognised 38 shortlisted employers, mentors and apprentices across 15 categories.

Horticulture apprentice Holly Doran scooped Cornwall’s Apprentice of the Year 2026, for showing unparalleled dedication to her craft. To avoid a long commute from Plymouth, Holly lived in a self-renovated van, enabling her to submit work months in advance and lead a team in creating a Cornwall Spring Flower Show exhibit that officials stated met the high standards of the RHS Chelsea Flower Show. Holly also completed the Rotary Youth Leadership Award, being voted Gold Leader for an expedition across Dartmoor, and was also presented Land-Based Apprentice of the Year by sponsors Cormac.

Tamsin Allen was named Apprentice Achiever of the Year after leading a pilot project that saved the Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust £75,000. Tamsin, who also won Digital and IT Apprentice of the Year, sponsored by Cornwall Council, transitioned from a 13-year clinical career to a digital support role after being diagnosed with a connective tissue disease. She devised the innovative "Silent Hospital" project to reduce patient stays, all while balancing chronic illness and motherhood.

Ella Bardgett from Cormac was named the first-ever Rising Star having demonstrated maturity beyond her years by managing complex projects and liaising with planning coordinators independently. Ella also picked up the Construction and Trade Apprentice of the Year award, sponsored by Coastline Housing, for her commitment to sustainability and proactive problem-solving.

Each winner was presented with a commemorative South Crofty Tin ingot, along with a framed certificate and glass trophy, by radio personality and Truro and Penwith College alumnus Neil Caddy and former college governor and Vice Lord-Lieutenant Daphne Skinnard.

The event opened with a special video message from the UK Skills Minister, the Right Honourable Baroness Smith of Malvern, and was attended by special guests and dignitaries including Cornwall’s MPs and representatives from Skills England, Cornwall Chamber of Commerce and the South West Apprenticeship Ambassador Network.

Event partners included Hertzian, Cornwall Manufacturers Group, Watson-Marlow and CORMAC, and a range of local and national sponsors.

The Large Apprentice Employer of the Year award was won by Cornwall Group, where over 20% of employees are on an apprenticeship journey, resulting in innovations that have cut paper waste by 60%. Hiyield was named SME Employer of the Year, praised for a "talent pipeline" approach that treats apprentices as full team members with dedicated one-to-one mentoring from day one.

Martin Tucker, principal of Truro and Penwith College, commented: “It’s vitally important we recognise apprenticeships as a key part of Cornwall’s Economic Strategy. The latest data tells us there are nearly 8,000 apprentices training in Cornwall right now, making valuable contributions to workplaces across the county while establishing successful careers.”

Christopher Weavill, co-Founder and chief executive of headline sponsors Hertzian, added: “Many of our senior leaders began as apprentices, and their journey is proof that investing in local talent builds a stronger, more innovative company. We are proud to be here today because of them."

Other category winners included: Academic Mentor of the Year – Sally Ammirato, Truro and Penwith College; Workplace Mentor of the Year - Brian Sharrock, A&P Falmouth; Hospitality Apprentice of the Year – Liam Couch, St Austell Brewery; Nursing, Healthcare & Education Apprentice of the Year – Dawn Swanston, Cornwall Foundation Trust; Business & Professional Apprentice of the Year – Fleur Symons, Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust; Hair & Beauty Apprentice of the Year - Sophie Tresidder, Cutting Edge; Engineering, Manufacturing & Automotive Apprentice of the Year - Ross Allen, Pall Corporation.