Article: Apprentice of the Year 2025: who made the shortlist? Written by CMI Insights Tuesday 10 February 2026 Share Share to LinkedIn Share to Facebook Share via email CMI’s Apprentice of the Year award honours those taking their leadership to the next level by reinforcing their on-the-job expertise with CMI-accredited study. Here’s who made the shortlist for 2025 The CMI Apprentice of the Year award celebrates outstanding leaders who’ve committed to bridging the gap between hands-on experience and deep study through a CMI-accredited apprenticeship. These leaders are bolstering their day-to-day leadership with academic rigour and taking workplace challenges back to the classroom. They have not picked the easy route – they’re juggling work pressures with intense study. But as they’ll attest, the results make it all worthwhile – with benefits that stretch beyond their careers to help transform their organisations and communities too. We’re pleased to introduce the shortlist for our 2025 award. Find out more The winners of the CMI Awards of Excellence will be announced in Spring 2026. Read up on all the categories and shortlisters at the link below. Let's go Jessie Weavers-Medina CMgr MCMI Having left formal education at 16, Jessie began her career in administration at the University of Oxford in 2016. She’s now operations manager at the university’s Nuffield Department of Medicine, where she leads operational and financial planning, governance, project delivery and staff management. After embarking on the Chartered Manager Degree Apprenticeship (CMDA) at Abingdon and Witney College, she graduated with first-class honours and a distinction in her End Point Assessment. Our judges praised Jessie for her “exceptional, sector-leading achievement”, noting her journey from school leaver to strategic leader managing budgets, staff and complex governance. For Jessie, who also served as the university’s first transgender representative, the shortlisting has been “genuinely impactful”. I was anxious about whether being openly trans would limit my career or close doors to me. Being shortlisted on the basis of my professional work shows that visibility and progression don’t have to be in tension. It’s possible to be recognised without compromising who you are What is a management apprenticeship? Follow the link below to find out more about the apprenticeship journey, whether you're already employed or looking to start your career, plus the different management apprenticeships that CMI offers. Let's go Dr Hannah Bolt CMgr FCMI Hannah is an emerging leader in the field of peptides, the “building blocks” of proteins that may carry anti-inflammatory and muscle-building benefits. Now head of peptide discovery at AstraZeneca, she has delivered several peptide candidates that are currently moving through clinical phases of development. Hannah trained as a scientist. When she became a team leader, she decided to take a Level 7 Senior Leadership Apprenticeship at Keele Business School to boost her confidence in management. She scored one of the highest academic grades in her programme's history, while delivering a multimillion-dollar investment case at work. That impressed our judges, as did Hannah’s significant organisational impact, specifically her work in reducing hazardous waste and accelerating project timelines by 25%. I’m very grateful to be shortlisted. It’s an encouraging reminder of how much I’ve learned throughout my apprenticeship and highlights the value of continued personal and professional development, no matter what stage of career you are at Keep reading – find out who else made the shortlist Login or register below for Free Instant Access Login If you are already registered as a CMI Friend, Subscriber or Member, just login to view this article. Confirm your registration Login below to confirm your details and access this article. Log in Register for Free Access Not yet a Member, Subscriber or Friend? Register as a CMI Friend for free, and get access to this and many other exclusive resources, as well as weekly updates straight to your inbox. Article Our extensive range of articles are designed to keep you in the loop with all the latest management and leadership best practice, research and news. Members See More CMI Members have access to thousands of online learning and CPD resources. Learn more about our membership benefits Join The Community CMI offers a variety of flexible membership solutions, tailored to your needs. Find out more and get involved in the CMI community today.
