2026: A bumper year for ARU apprentice awards
At ARU, we're proud to celebrate the achievements of our degree apprentices, recognising the impact they make in the workplace and their success in their studies.
ARU Nursing Associate apprentice, Ellie Falconer
In 2026, many of our apprentices have been recognised through a range of regional and national awards. Here's a roundup of some of their recent achievements.
Ellie: Chief Nursing Officer Student Excellence Award
ARU Nursing Associate apprentice, Ellie Falconer won the Chief Nursing Officer Student Excellence Award this year – a prestigious national nursing award – for her outstanding contribution to patient care, sepsis awareness and the nursing profession.
Isabel: Peterborough Apprentice of the Year
Isabel – ARU Quantity Surveying degree apprentice with Anglian Water – was named Peterborough Apprentice of the Year 2026. She describes how embracing opportunities and making the most of her apprenticeship helped her win this award.
Izabela: Oxford Energy Academies Apprentice of the Year
![ARU Digital Marketer[KA1.1] degree apprentice, Izabela](/-/media/Images/738-width/single-student/izabela_oxford_energy_738x369.jpg?h=369&w=738&hash=042984E1A822D6B2FB0852EC8A8E3254)
ARU Digital Marketer degree apprentice, Izabela won the coveted Oxford Energy Academies Apprentice of the Year award at this year’s Huntingdonshire Business Awards. She works for Big Bear Creative – an SME marketing agency based in St. Ives, Cambridgeshire. Both Izabela and Big Bear Creative have been strong advocates for ARU degree apprenticeships.
DC Christina Harding: Society of Evidence Based Policing Emerging Talent Award
DC Christina Harding won the Emerging Talent Award at this year’s National Evidence-Based Policing Awards for her evidence-based research project ‘Predication to Prevention’. Christina is an apprentice on the Police Constable Degree Apprenticeship and is a serving Officer with Essex Police Force.
Anika: Nominated for Apprentice of the Year (Creative, Media & Marketing) at Multicultural Apprenticeships Awards 2026
Anika is a Digital Marker Degree Apprentice working for Exlixirr Digital. Unfortunately, she didn’t win however Anika is very proud to be nominated and what she’s achieved so far in her apprenticeship and career.
"I'm incredibly proud to have been nominated as a finalist for the Multicultural Apprenticeship Awards. It's a reflection of the support I've received from my employer and ARU, as well as the hard work and dedication I've put into developing my career through my apprenticeship."
Anika, Digital Marker Degree ApprenticeReady to start your own success story?
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