Article summary: The winners are crowned for AZ Awards 2026!
Our AZ Awards 2026 has now taken place and what an unforgettable night it was!
It was a truly incredible evening, filled with fantastic guests, a vibrant atmosphere, and a shared celebration of the very best in the room. From start to finish, the energy in the room was amazing, and it was a real pleasure to bring everyone together to recognise outstanding achievements.
We would like to extend a huge congratulations to all of our finalists. Being shortlisted is a remarkable accomplishment, and each of you should be extremely proud of your success.
Of course, the highlight of the evening was announcing our winners - individuals and organisations who have gone above and beyond and set the benchmark for excellence.
We are delighted to share our 2026 winners below:
Apprentice Awards
- Best in ICT - Seyni Ndoye - Portsmouth Aviation
- Best in Engineering (Operative, Welder, Machinist and Technician) - Samuel Roxburgh - Harwin
- Best in Engineering (Fitter & MOET) - Lewis Swash - Ourvita (Laleham Health & Beauty)
- Best in Business - Megan Wells - Cheeky Rascals
- Best in Finance - James Lawson - Mipa Paints
- Best in Management - Brad Richards - SMR Automotive Mirrors UK
- Best in Leadership Management - Connor Cooper - Runfold Plastics
- Best First Year - Emily Gunn - Drift IT Services
Employer Awards
- Best Apprentice Employer (Corporate) - CooperVision
- Best Apprentice Employer (SME) - Biscoes Solicitors
- Rising Star - Maria Miralles-Peraire - Estee Lauder Companies
- Mentor - Stephen Scott - Carbon 60
- PETA L&D Coach - Elaine Kling-Moger
- PETA Trainer - Saurabh Modi
Special Recognition Awards
- Paragon of the Year - Matilda Tucker - Parker Meggitt
- AZ Award for Excellence - Claire Newland - Mipa Paints
- Overall Apprentice of the Year 2026 - James Lawson - Mipa Paints
A massive well done to all of our winners - you truly represent the best of the best.
Thank you to everyone who attended and helped make the evening such a success. We look forward to doing it all again next year!