Exeter employee wins West Country Women’s ‘Apprentice of the Year’ award 

A University of Exeter employee is the first ever Apprentice of the Year at the inaugural West Country Women Awards, recognising her exceptional achievements and leadership journey. 

Honor Lovell, who is currently completing her Level 6 Chartered Manager Degree Apprenticeship, began working at the University of Exeter at the age of 16 and now works in the Degree Apprenticeship team as an Education Support Advisor. 

Honor is the first person in her immediate family to go to university and says the apprenticeship has enabled her to develop both professionally and personally, building self-awareness, confidence, leadership skills and resilience. 

She joined the 350 other finalists and supporters earlier this month at the Plaza Hotel in Plymouth to celebrate outstanding West Country women in apprenticeships. 

Honor said: “It was amazing. I was shocked – I really wasn’t expecting it. The atmosphere was incredible: a room full of support, empowerment and inspiring stories from women across the West Country. It was emotional and a very proud moment.”

Honor joined the University of Exeter as a Level 2 Business Administration apprentice and quickly excelled, taking on extra responsibilities such as training temporary staff.

Her success and appetite for development saw her move to the Business School where she began a Level 3 apprenticeship before joining the University’s expanding Degree Apprenticeships team.

She was a line-manager by the age of 21 and now manages a team in the Financial Services Degree Apprenticeships portfolio, supporting programmes delivered in partnership with major financial services employers. 

Honor is half-way through a Level 6 Chartered Manager Degree Apprenticeship, and will receive a BSc(Hons) Responsible Business Management on completion, as well as the CMI Level 6 Diploma in Professional Management and Leadership Practice and CMI Chartered Manager status.

While juggling work with her studies is a challenge, she says supporting her team and the University’s apprentices “keeps me going”.

Honor said: “Apprenticeships have a huge impact on people, businesses and learning. Eight years on from joining the University as a school-leaver I am now in the final year of my Degree Apprenticeship and though it has been a challenging journey, I have learnt a huge amount, not only about organisations and working with people, but also about who I am and the qualities that I bring to the workplace.”

The winners have been invited to Westminster in February and the award gives them access to exclusive training opportunities, events and networks.