Apprentices serve up success for Banbury firm

The JDE team and winners at the Oxfordshire Apprenticeship Awards night. Pictured left to right are: Tom Hill, Hannah Webb, Rob Williams, Francesca Warrior, Lauren Hansen, Martin Youngjohns, Ryan Taylor, Keith Fisher and James Osbourne.

The awards recognise and celebrate the achievements of the county’s apprentices and this was the first time JDE had entered.

Former apprentice, Ryan Taylor, achieved first place in the Shining Star of the Year category.

Ryan, whose grandparents worked at the Banbury coffee factory, has now progressed to lead a team as an apprentice support technician.

The apprenticeship programme began in 1983 and JDE employs more than 50 former apprentices across the business up to manufacturing leadership team level.

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Ryan said: “It was an honour to be nominated but to win was incredible. I’m so thankful to the team at JDE for supporting me throughout my career so far.

"Thank you to the careers team at The Warriner School for encouraging me to consider apprenticeships and finally to Simon Roberts and the team at Integration Technology for sponsoring the award and selecting me as their winner.”

Lauren Hansen, maintenance planner, was runner-up for the advanced apprentice of the year award while JDE was also a successful finalist for the apprenticeship employer of the year award – up against almost 250 other companies.

Banbury Plant Director Rob Williams said: “We are so pleased that Ryan and Lauren have been commended by the Oxfordshire Apprenticeship Awards for their efforts. Following our recent investment into the JDE Apprentice Programme through a new workshop for our apprentices, all our associates have worked really hard to progress the scheme and we are grateful to be recognised."