Two members of the Hardstaff Barriers team have been shortlisted for leading national apprenticeship awards thanks to their commitment and achievements at work.

Rhiannon McGhee, Apprentice Health, Safety and Environment Technician, has been nominated for ‘Apprentice of the Year’ and Kathryn Cooper, Service Manager, has been nominated for ‘Apprentice Champion of the Year’ in the National Apprenticeship Awards 2021 for the East Midlands region.

Hardstaff Barriers, based in Kingston-on-Soar, Nottinghamshire, is a leading manufacturer and supplier of roadside safety barriers and perimeter security systems. The company’s vehicle restraint systems (VRS), hostile vehicle mitigation (HVM) barriers, perimeter fencing, concrete security barriers and access gates are all designed to keep people and property safe.

The pair will find out if they have been successful at a regional ceremony on October 20.

Regional winners will automatically be shortlisted for a national award and will undergo a second tier national judging process where the national finalists will be selected. National finalists will be announced on Friday November 12.

The National Apprenticeship Awards, now in their 18th year, have been designed to recognise and reward the achievements of exceptional apprentices, apprenticeship champions and apprenticeship employers.

Rhiannon, who started working for Hardstaff in 2019, said: “Starting any career can feel like a big step. I am lucky that I found the right path for me. 

“By becoming an apprentice, I could learn and grow on the job around experts, learning skills beyond my apprenticeship and setting me up for a career ahead of me.”

Kathryn Cooper, a successful Service Manager, who has worked for Hardstaff Barriers since 2017, said: “Making your people the best versions of themselves is key. Help the people grow and the business not only survives but thrives.”

“Making your people the best versions of themselves is key. Help the people grow and the business not only survives but thrives.”
Kathryn Cooper, Service Manager for Hardstaff Barriers.