Two Croydon apprentices have been recognised as among the best in the capital after being shortlisted in next month’s London Borough Apprenticeship Awards.
Abdurahman Mohammed, a customer service apprentice in Croydon Council’s gateway team and Lashaunda Malcolm, a customer service apprentice in Croydon College’s apprenticeship team, have been nominated in the Best Contribution by a New Apprentice and Supply Chain Apprentice of the Year categories respectively.
Both will find out if they have won on 3 September, at an awards ceremony held at the Worshipful Society of Apothecaries on Black Friars Lane.
Abdurahman, 19, helps homeless customers with applications for welfare benefits, and early into his apprenticeship he saw a need to develop a booklet for residents with important information to help them access services effectively. He helped to create this, improving customer satisfaction, reducing complaints and improving council rent collection to the highest it has ever been.
He has also in the past month mentored and supported two new council apprentices to help them settle into the team. Abdurahman’s nomination puts him in the running for the London Council’s Apprentice of the Year award.
In her role at Croydon College, Lashaunda, 21, carries out initial interviews and screenings for prospective apprentices and attends events on behalf of the college.
Croydon College is one of Croydon’s largest apprenticeship training providers and a longstanding partner of the council’s job brokerage service, Croydon Works. They are also a partner in the Croydon Apprenticeship Academy and the 100 in 100 campaign, a council-led campaign to recruit 100 local residents into apprenticeships in 100 working days.
Lashaunda’s work has seen an increase in collaboration with Croydon Works, and actively engaging with local residents of all ages to register and enrol on to the college’s courses and supporting them to begin work as apprentices. By participating in job fairs, she has also increased the numbers of people considering and applying for apprenticeships as a viable way of gaining further qualifications and work experience.
“Congratulations to both Abdurahman and Lashaunda on their nominations. It is fantastic they are receiving much deserved recognition for their work and the impact they have had at their respective employers.
“We work hard to ensure we place potential apprentices in the right positions, to ensure they, and their employers, get the most out of it and to give their new career the best start. I wish both Abdurahman and Lashaunda the best of luck at the awards ceremony.”
Councillor Manju Shahul-Hameed, cabinet member for economy and jobs
Croydon Council’s apprenticeship programme has been recognised nationally, winning at both the enei (Employers Network for Equality and Inclusion) Awards and Personnel Today Awards last year. The council’s apprentices are also ambassadors for Croydon’s Choose Your Future campaign, which supports young people to make positive choices and gives them access to opportunities.
To search for apprenticeship opportunities, or if you are an employer wishing to sign up, visit www.croydon.gov.uk/100in100 or email 100in100@croydon.gov.uk
