Ignite Sport apprentice wins award at Regional Apprenticeship Awards Ceremony

Ignite Sport apprentice Joshua Read-Strahan was recognised for his outstanding efforts at the Regional Apprenticeship awards ceremony October 2023.   

Hosted at the Double Tree Hilton hotel in Woking, the ceremony was attended by over 100 people and this year marked its 20th anniversary.   

Josh was thrilled to win the Oxlep Oxfordshire Apprenticeship Awards in Summer this year, and therefore was nominated by Hannah Bladen for the Regional Apprenticeship Awards.    

As well as receiving a distinction in his Level 2 Community Activator Coach Apprenticeship, he is always a smiling and welcoming person who goes the extra
mile to inspire other young people as an Apprenticeship Ambassador. Josh is now undertaking a Level 3 apprenticeship in teaching assisting.   

When arriving at the ceremony Josh was unaware that he was a finalist in the Regional Apprenticeship Awards. After sitting down for an introduction and meal, Josh was revealed as a finalist. Ecstatic, he went up on stage to receive the Highly Commended Regional winner for Amazon’s Intermediate Apprenticeship of the Year Award 2023.   

This was a huge achievement for Josh, who was up against apprentices from the British Army, Royal Air Force, Royal Navy and other big organisations.    

Hannah Bladen who accompanied Josh at the event said,: “I was so proud of Josh when he won the County award, but to be recognised in the South-east region for his achievements is fantastic.” 

“To be Highly Commended is testament to his effort and determination in all that he does. Josh has blossomed in to an amazing young man, equipped with the knowledge, skills and behaviours to work in sporting and educational settings. The apprenticeship route has been perfect for Josh and has given him the confidence to reach great heights.”  

Josh’s tutor Kyle Bestley added: “It really was pleasing to see Josh had been put forward as highly commended within the whole of the South east region.” 

“This is something Josh fully deserves for his show of persistence and willingness to develop and progress himself both within his role and as a person over the last couple of years."

"He has been able to push himself above and beyond all expectations and has shown the real value of following the apprenticeship pathway he has followed. Josh has real potential and it’s exciting to see where he will be able to push himself to within the future!”. 

Everyone at Ignite Sport is proud of Josh and all the achievements of our apprentices, and we wish Josh the very best in his continued apprenticeship journey.