Three awards for star apprentice

An inspirational apprentice has been awarded a hat-trick of honours in a year - and landed a full-time job.

Ellie Burke, 21, found her niche as an apprentice adult care worker with Rochdale Gateway Leisure and has now been awarded a full-time support worker role, although her apprenticeship does not finish until the end of the year.

She has faced her own battles after she lost her father, then lost her way and was struggling with her mental health, but this has made her stronger and more determined to achieve and to help others.

Last year, Ellie won the Rochdale Business Awards Apprentice of the Year title which service and training manager at Gateway Leisure, Roxanne Sharp said was a great boost to Ellie’s self- esteem and confidence.

Then, educational charity NCFE also put her forward as a finalist for Apprentice of the Year, and when they arrived at Gateway on the pretext of filming Ellie as one of the finalists, they announced she was actually the winner.

 

 

Read more: Rochdale apprentice triumphs at National Education AwardsPublished: 06 July 2024

Roxanne said: “Ellie was then nominated for the Department for Education National Apprenticeship and Skills Awards 2024 in The Amazon Intermediate Apprentice of the Year Award category.”

Although at the North West final, she didn’t win, the judges awarded Ellie a Highly Commended as they said her application deserved recognition and they wanted to make sure she was rewarded.

Roxanne said: “Ellie came to Gateway from Rochdale Training and she had previously been on a Prince’s Trust programme for 12 weeks.

“For a young person, who at one stage had no direction, she has done really well and found what she wanted to do.”

With Rochdale Training she completed her Level 1 Adult Care and while she was studying the apprentice job became available at Gateway Leisure.

Roxanne said: “I had been her tutor at Rochdale Training and I thought she would fit the position well. She started with us in May 2023 and her apprenticeship is just coming to an end in December.

“She has completed her end assessments, had done all her written work and her mock exam and is just waiting to do her final exam in November.

“All of her hard work and determination has meant that she has already been awarded a full-time contract as a Support Worker with Gateway Leisure.

“She has battled through and done everything and now she champions mental health in young people. Ellie is a real advocate for mental health.

“She is an inspiration to anyone who wants to work in the adult care world.”

As a volunteer, Ellie also gives five hours to help to run discos at Gateway and also helps and guides people at the Prince’s Trust.

Gateway Leisure was founded 31 years ago and supports adults with learning and physical disabilities.

Anyone interested in an apprenticeship position at Gateway should call 01706 515800.