19-year old Millie Walker from Markerstudy Group, who works at Auto Windscreens’ Chesterfield HQ, was recognised last Thursday as ‘Apprentice of the Year’ at the Derbyshire Times Business Excellence Awards. The awards celebrate ‘an apprentice who has excelled in their training and goes above and beyond for the benefit of both their business and their future career’.

Millie joined Markerstudy’s Apprenticeship Learning Experience (ALEX) Programme in 2017, and within six months she’d carved her own niche at the company. ‘Internally headhunted’ by the HR team, a position was created especially for her to support the HR Business Partner with further promotion to HR Coordinator only 10 months later.

Since last year, Millie has also led the Chesterfield site’s CSR project, encouraging employees to raise funds and volunteer for the Padley Group, which provides services to deprived and vulnerable people in the community.

Apprenticeship Programme Manager, Ewan Freeman, said: “We are exceptionally proud of Millie; this is her third award, after being deservedly crowned ‘Chesterfield Apprentice of the Year 2018’ at the North Midlands and South Yorkshire Apprenticeship Awards in May last year and winning the internal accolade for ‘HR Employee of the Year’ in December.

“She’s responsible, professional and fun, all of which are qualities we value enormously. She’s grasped the opportunities we’ve offered with both hands and her desire to learn and improve is infectious. Our apprenticeship programme aims to support and identify our next generation of talent and Millie has proven to be exactly that, and more.