BEST NEW APPRENTICE
SPONSORED BY
FINALIST
JACK HOBSON ( LIFE NINJA )
Bespoke Health principal Nathan Steel , right , congratulates the winner of the Best New Apprentice award , Mitchell Hillyard of Greenology .
WINNER
MITCHELL HILLYARD ( GREENOLOGY )
He has three key roles in his busy life – and hardworking Mitchell Hillyard performs them all with true dedication .
Mitchell , 22 , is an apprentice at Greenology , the Middlesbrough-based “ old tyres to energy ” firm , where he continuously impresses all who meet him with his hard work and dedication .
With a Level 2 in civil engineering and a Level 2 WAMITAB qualification already under his belt , Mitchell self-enrolled on a Level 3 extended diploma in mechanical engineering to improve his qualifications and life chances .
And while his official working day starts at 8am , he ’ s often there at the crack of dawn , sweeping the yard ahead of another busy day .
But as the primary carer for his brother , who has severe learning difficulties , and as a volunteer lifeboatman , Mitchell is a brave as well as a bright young man .
Looking after his brother takes up most of his spare time – time most 22-year-olds would probably use to have fun and unwind . But incredibly , Mitchell also finds time to volunteer at Staithes and Runswick Lifeboat Station .
After accepting the Best New Apprentice trophy at the Best New Tees Business Awards , a delighted Mitchell – pictured ( above , left ) with Nathan Steel of category sponsors Bespoke Health – said : “ I ’ m absolutely over the moon and overwhelmed .”
In a video shown at the awards event , Mitchell said his main role at Greenology is to make sure all the machines are well maintained .
And he enjoys it so much , he says he can ’ t imagine working anywhere else .
SPONSOR MESSAGE
“ Huge thanks to Tees Business for putting together such an amazing event . We were enthralled to see so many local businesses supporting one another . We are so proud to be from this thriving area , which was showcased brilliantly on the night . It was an honour to present the Best New Apprentice award . Everyone at Bespoke Health would like to say a huge well done to Jack Hobson and Leisha White , who were shortlisted , and to the winner , Mitchell Hillyard . Massive congratulations to you and thanks for allowing us to play a part in your journey – we wish you all the best for the future .” Nathan Steel , principal – Bespoke Health
Jack has been an apprentice software developer with Life Ninja since June 2020 . Originally working from home and conducting his apprenticeship remotely , he has worked tremendously hard to complete his work .
He has passed each of his exams to the highest standard and has assisted co-founders in the creation of the Life Ninja Network .
The firm ’ s managing director Trevor Wills says : “ Jack has made an excellent start to his apprenticeship with us . His zest for software development and work ethic made it easy for us to offer Jack a position within Life Ninja at the end of his apprenticeship in November 2021 .”
FINALIST
LEISHA WHITE ( BEYOND HOUSING )
Leisha , 19 , has made a phenomenal start in her post as digital marketing apprentice with Beyond Housing .
After achieving excellent GCSE results and A-levels in English language , law and psychology , Leisha was unsure whether she wanted to go to university or become an apprentice .
Helping her mum set up a cleaning business on Facebook piqued Leisha ’ s interest , as she saw the business grow and expand . She therefore decided to choose the apprenticeship route and became the very first digital marketing apprentice at Beyond Housing , where she has been described as “ driven , keen to learn , enthusiastic , with a passion for digital marketing and an absolute breath of fresh air !”
86 | Tees Business