Finalists announced for the 2025 Coach Core Awards
Coach Core has announced the finalists in each category for our 2025 awards ceremony which will take place in February.
The Coach Core Awards bring together apprentices, graduated apprentices, their employers and learning coaches, as well as supporters and other partners, to celebrate and highlight everything that makes Coach Core special. The 2025 ceremony will celebrate the best of our programmes across the country over the previous year.
The ceremony will take place at The Oval – Surrey County Cricket Club’s ground – in London on February 13th.
I’m genuinely inspired by this year’s incredible group of nominees. This event is always the highlight of my year, and it never fails to remind me why the work we do matters so much. The standard of nominations gets higher every year, showcasing the ever-growing impact apprentices and their employers have on communities across the country.
Each finalist represents just a small sample of the amazing apprentices we support every year, yet their stories highlight the profound difference they’re making. From breaking down barriers and fostering inclusion to supporting mental health, addressing inequalities, and empowering young people, their work is nothing short of extraordinary.
I’m also incredibly proud of the people who make this work possible. From mentors who guide and inspire our apprentices every day to those who champion and support our charity behind the scenes, their contributions are invaluable. We’re thrilled to have a few special awards to recognise and celebrate their efforts—they are truly the backbone of our success.
Thankfully, I don’t have to make the tough decisions this year—that responsibility falls to our amazing judging panel, who will no doubt reflect the passion and excellence of all our nominees. These stories of resilience, creativity, and lived experience truly embody the spirit of transformation. I hope they inspire you as much as they’ve inspired me.”
Finalists
Apprentice – Community Activator Coach (Level 2)
This award celebrates a Coach Core apprentice who has surpassed expectations on their Level 2 programme.
Arnie Ladwa
Leicester, CEL Sports
Claire Lambton
Northumberland, Tyne & Wear, Hat-Trick
Sean Hopwood
West Midlands, Stratford Cricket Club
Skye Leonard
Bristol, Youth Moves
Zainab Obani
West Midlands, High Oak Youth and Community Centre
Apprentice – Community Sports & Health Officer (Level 3)
This award celebrates a Coach Core apprentice who has surpassed expectations on their Level 3 programme.
Charles Ward
Manchester, Nuffield Health
Millie Stott
Nottinghamshire & Derby, ATTFE College
Spencer Glaze
Leicester, Make Change Inclusive
Graduate
This award celebrates a graduated Coach Core apprentice who has gone on to achieve remarkable things since their programme finished.
Aaron Bishop
Sussex
Dan Hurle
Leeds
Kobi Ghasemi
Sussex
Employer
This award celebrates an organisation which embraces the Coach Core ethos and uses the benefits of partnership working to support the Coach Core apprentice(s) they employ.
Tees Active
Middlesbrough
Tumble Gymnastics
Northumberland, Tyne & Wear
Youth Moves
Bristol
Mentor
This award celebrates an individual in an organisation that employs a Coach Core apprentice who has surpassed expectations in supporting their apprentice(s).
Angela Edwards
West Midlands, High Oak Youth and Community Centre
Elizabeth Sunduzwayo
Northumberland, Tyne & Wear, New Hope North East
Scott Moore
Leicester, CEL Sports
Learning Coach
This award celebrates the educator who has surpassed expectations in support of the apprentices they are teaching.
All our Learning Coaches make a tremendous impact on the apprentices they work with – not just taking them through the technical material the apprentice needs but also acting as mentor and role model. This year, instead of shortlisting 3 Learning Coaches, all those active on Coach Core programmes are in consideration.
Unsung Hero
This award celebrates someone in the Coach Core network who has made a significant contribution to our mission, has demonstrated Coach Core values and deserves to be recognised for their support and dedication to the programme.
Collinson Group
Lee Simms
Rothschild & Co
The Judges
The difficult job of selecting winners from these worthy nominees will be undertaken by an external panel of judges from both inside and beyond the sectors we work in, including representatives from Centrepoint, Westminster Foundation, Collinson Group, Lifetime, UCAS, Amazing Apprenticeships, Miller Insurance, Sport England, Active Partnerships Network, UK Coaching and CIMSPA – as well as Madi, Aura and James – all graduates of the Coach Core programme and award winners in their own right.
Our Sponsors
Lifetime Training are proud sponsors of Coach Core Awards.
Lifetime is one of the UK’s leading training providers delivering innovative learning strategies through industry experienced trainers curriculum experts and leading edge technology.