The winners of the 2026 DfT Special Recognition Apprentice Awards were announced at the LCRIG Innovation & Learning Festival on Wednesday 25 June, celebrating the outstanding apprentices and organisations helping to shape the future of the highways and transport technology sector.

Now in their second year, the awards, which were hosted by Highways News’ Paul Hutton, continue to recognise and celebrate the outstanding achievements of apprentices who are making a real impact within their organisations, communities and the wider industry. Supported by the Department for Transport and sponsored by leading organisations from across the sector, the awards showcase the talent, dedication and innovation helping to shape the future of highways and transport technology.

This year’s record response not only reflects the growing strength of apprenticeship programmes across the industry, but also highlights the exceptional calibre of young professionals helping to shape the future of highways and transport technology.

With more than 60 apprentices in attendance, each supported by our generous sponsors to ensure they could be part of the event, the awards ceremony was a fantastic celebration of emerging talent across the highways and transport technology sector. The evening provided an opportunity for apprentices from across the UK to be recognised for their achievements, connect with industry peers and celebrate the vital role they play in shaping the future of our sector.

Congratulations to all those nominated, highly commended and shortlisted, and especially to this year’s winners:

DfT Special Recognition Inspirational Apprentice Award Sponsored by WJ Group
This award celebrates apprentices in the highways and transport road infrastructure technology sector who go above and beyond to motivate and inspire those around them.

Winner: Lukasz Zinko – Galliford Try Infrastructure
Lukasz is an outstanding Civil Engineering Degree Apprentice whose enthusiasm, professionalism, and commitment make him an inspiring role model. He actively promotes apprenticeships through school engagement, including a highly praised contribution to the Melton Vale Sixth Form College Careers Fair.

Judges’ comments:
“Lukasz’s enthusiasm, professionalism, and positive mindset motivates those around him. He actively champions apprenticeships and inspires others to consider a career in engineering through his commitment to learning and inclusion. His engagement with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) audiences, combined with his openness and willingness to ask questions, creates a supportive and psychologically safe environment, making him an outstanding role model and a deserving winner.”

Highly commended:
ª Chloe Kirkby – North East Lincolnshire Council
• Bailey Colman – Cheshire East Highways

Chloe is an outstanding apprentice whose dedication, leadership, and innovation have made a remarkable impact. She has completed her apprenticeship early with excellent grades and exemplifies resilience, professionalism, and passion.

Bailey’s initiative, technical skill, and positive attitude have made a significant impact. She has developed automated tools that have transformed efficiency, transparency, and carbonaligned planning. She also advocates strongly for apprenticeships, inspiring young people through school outreach and community volunteering.

DfT Special Recognition Exceptional Frontline Apprentice Award Sponsored by Triopsis
This award celebrates apprentices who make outstanding contributions in frontline roles within the highways and road infrastructure technology sector.

Winner: Chris Maude – CORMAC
During Storm Goretti, one of the most severe weather events to affect Cornwall in decades, apprentice Chris delivered outstanding frontline leadership. Operating as Duty Area Coordinator, Chris managed extreme call volumes, coordinated emergency responses to widespread tree falls and flooding, and safeguarded the
public and critical transport links.

Judges’ comments:
“Chris delivers excellent frontline leadership in extreme circumstances, beyond expectations of an apprentice. During Storm Goretti, he operated as a Duty Area Coordinator under red weather warnings, managing emergency response, risk, public communications, and crew deployment. Crucially, this is not just “performance under pressure” and evidence accelerated learning, decision-making maturity, and operational leadership developed in real time.”

Highly commended: James Rickard – CORMAC
James’s achievements over the last two years exemplify outstanding performance in role, sustained commitment to learning, and a positive, measurable impact on service delivery. He has completed his Level 3 Civil Engineering Technician Apprenticeship and gained his EngTech professional qualification with the ICE, all
while carrying out a demanding role and becoming a father.

DfT Special Recognition Outstanding Achievement Awards – Level 2 Apprenticeship Award Sponsored by TRL
This award celebrates excellence among Level 2 apprentices in the highways and transport technology sector.

Winner: Joshua Graham – Argyle NW
Joshua consistently demonstrates high standards, shows clear progress in developing new skills, contributes positively to his organisation and has overcome significant challenges to reach this point in his career. Joshua’s story shows that determination, commitment and the opportunity provided through apprenticeships
can genuinely change lives.

Judges’ comments:
“Joshua has shown remarkable growth and maturity, becoming a trusted and positive presence within his team. His willingness to speak openly about his journey and encourage others is genuinely impressive.”

Highly commended: Oliver Lewin-Grey – Eurovia
Outstanding apprentices do not only learn how to do the job, they contribute to raising the standards around them. Oliver is that apprentice. In an environment centred around safety, where the setting is often high-pressured and critical, Oliver has shown rapid skills development; maturity beyond his age and stage; and a
professionalism that makes him stand out among peers.

DfT Special Recognition Outstanding Achievement Awards – Level 3 Apprenticeship Award Sponsored by UK-APPHE
This award celebrates excellence among Level 3 apprentices in the highways and transport technology sector.

Winner: Brandon Jones – Rochdale Borough Council

Brandon is an outstanding apprentice who exemplifies excellence in every aspect of his role. He consistently delivers high-quality work, progressing through his apprenticeship at a fast pace. He contributes to major infrastructure projects, supports those around him, and demonstrates exceptional commitment to learning
and development.

Judges’ comments:
“Brandon has demonstrated exceptional commitment to learning and development, going beyond the expectations of a Level 3 apprentice and taking on complex, high-level projects with confidence and dedication.”

Highly commended: Dan Tedstill – Northumberland County Council
Dan has made a real impact from the very start. He’s gained hands-on experience across highways, bridge inspections, traffic management, and construction, including work on the A69 trunk road and the Hexham to Corbridge Cycleway. Dan is known for his positive attitude, willingness to get involved, and strong team spirit. He takes pride in his work, is committed to learning, and consistently delivers to a high standard.

DfT Special Recognition Outstanding Achievement Awards – Level 4–6 Apprenticeship Award
Sponsored by Multevo
This award celebrates excellence among Level 4-6 apprentices in the highways and transport technology sector.

Winner: Annabelle Farrington – Amey
Annabelle is an exceptional Degree Apprentice and Carbon Innovation Manager who has made a significant impact across the highways and transport sector. A passionate advocate for apprenticeships, Annabelle champions lowcarbon innovation and plays a key role in advancing decarbonisation through Live Labs 2.
She inspires colleagues and peers alike and exemplifies the value apprentices bring to the future of our industry.

Judges’ comments:
“Annabelle’s application was selected due to taking on carbon lead within a prestigious Live Lab project looking at Carbon Innovation. The judges were particularly impressed with the international element of her work and her role as subject matter leadership within Amey. In addition, they liked the determination to
gain access to much needed carbon data from suppliers to get to data-leaded decisions by developing trust with the supply chain.”

Highly commended: Lydia Knight – CORMAC
Lydia has made an exceptional impact since joining the Cormac Apprenticeship scheme. Her enthusiasm, rapid learning and strong work ethic earned her a permanent position, early promotion and a key role in a complex Refurbishment project. Now an Apprentice Ambassador, Lydia inspires young people exploring
engineering careers. She is progressing through her Level 4 apprenticeship and is a credit to Cormac and the wider sector.

DfT Special Recognition Excellence in Apprenticeship Delivery Award Sponsored by National Highways
New for 2026, this award celebrates employers who can showcase their commitment, contribution and the success that apprenticeships have brought to their organisation.

Winner: Central Bedfordshire Council
Central Bedfordshire Council’s Grow Your Own Engineer programme utilises apprenticeships to offer training and development opportunities to its existing workforce. This has allowed the Highways Service to retain talent and develop skills for the future whilst also providing entry level opportunities to start long and
successful careers in the Highways sector, bridging the skills gap and plugging hard to recruit vacancies.

Judges’ comments:
“Central Bedfordshire Council’s ‘Grow Your Own Engineer’ programme is a fantastic example of apprenticeships transforming both people and organisations. Despite significant budget pressures, the initiative has reduced the vacancy rate by 35%, strengthened workforce stability, delivered major financial savings, and created inspiring career opportunities. The programme is helping Central Bedfordshire grow
a confident, highly skilled workforce that will support the future of highways for years to come.”

Highly commended: Eurovia Infrastructure
The UK’s first Road Surfacing Operative (RSO) Apprenticeship programme, developed with Institute of Asphalt Technology, Wirtgen and Telford College blends inclusive recruitment, structured onboarding and exceptional technical, academic and onsite training. It has produced the country’s first qualified RSO apprentices. Rated Level 4 “Breakthrough Innovation,” it is transforming industry standards, strengthening workforce sustainability and creating opportunities for the next generation of road surfacing professionals.

Future of Local Roads: Apprentice Innovation Competition Sponsored by Map16 Asset Management
This year we challenged apprentices across the sector to identify a highways or transportation-related issue in their local area and develop an innovative solution that could improve safety, efficiency, accessibility, or sustainability on our local networks. Prize for the winning entry was £1,000 cash.

Winner: Jaime Pena Monteiro – Leicestershire County Council
Jaime’s winning idea is the Leicester Near-Miss Mapping System – A Proactive, Community Led Approach to Safer Streets. It puts people’s everyday experiences at the heart of safer streets. Instead of waiting for accidents to happen, it invites residents to share moments where they felt unsafe whether crossing the road,
cycling, or driving.

Judges’ comments:
“Jaime’s ‘Leicester Near-Miss Mapping System’ impressed the judges with its innovative and community-driven approach to road safety. The entry demonstrated a high level of detail and a strong understanding of the engineering challenge, applying real-life problem solving in a clear, methodical, and practical way. By shifting the focus from reacting to collisions to proactively identifying risks through everyday experiences, the project showed real potential to make local roads safer, more inclusive, and more responsive to the needs of all users. The judges were particularly encouraged to see how Jaime has applied the learning from his
apprenticeship to develop such a thoughtful and scalable solution, showcasing skills that will no doubt support a very successful future career in the sector.”

Meanwhile, North Yorkshire highways maintenance business NY Highways have announced that two of its colleagues have been recognised for their exceptional achievements at the North Yorkshire Apprenticeship Awards, held in Harrogate on 11 June.

Joe Robson and Luka Jobson (pictured) were both named finalists, showcasing the strength of talent within NY Highways’ apprenticeship programmes and its ‘Grow Your Own’ development initiative.

The awards highlight the impact and success of apprentices across the region, making this recognition a significant achievement for both individuals and the organisation.

Joe Robson (right), based in Selby, was shortlisted for Construction Apprentice of the Year and went on to win the award on the night. This achievement reflects Joe’s dedication to his development and the positive contribution he has made to both his team and the projects he has supported.

Luka Jobson (left), who works from NY Highways’ Thirsk depot, was shortlisted for Higher Apprentice of the Year, securing an impressive second place in a highly competitive category. This accolade, alongside his recent promotion to Interim Senior Supervisor, highlights the value Luka brings to the business.

Jamie Crumlish, Managing Director of NY Highways, said:

“We are incredibly proud of Joe and Luka and their achievements at this year’s awards. Their success is a reflection not only of their hard work and dedication, but also of the strength of our apprenticeship and development programmes. Investing in our people is central to everything we do, and it’s fantastic to see our ‘Grow Your Own’ approach delivering such positive outcomes for both individuals and the business.”

(Pictures: LCRIG; NY Highways)