We’re proud to celebrate the people who make Bendalls what it is through our Employee Awards 2025. These awards recognise achievement, growth, teamwork and impact across the business, and highlight individuals who consistently go above and beyond.
Huge congratulations to our 2025 award winners:
🏆 Apprentice of the Year (Year 2) – Zac Cunningham
The panel were impressed by Zac’s consistently positive attitude, reliability and willingness to get involved. Zac regularly supports careers fairs and open days and has also volunteered to be part of the Health & Safety Committee, achieving one of the top scores on his IOSH Working Safely course. His commitment and enthusiasm make him a very deserving winner.
🏆 Apprentice of the Year (Year 3) – Ashley Todd
Ashley consistently goes above and beyond to achieve the milestones of his apprenticeship. He demonstrates enthusiasm, initiative and a strong willingness to learn, alongside a reliable and positive attitude. His commitment to personal growth and development stood out strongly to the panel.
🏆 Apprentice of the Year (Year 4) – Liam Miller
Liam joined the business as a Machine Shop Assistant before choosing to pursue the apprenticeship route, demonstrating a strong commitment to his development. The panel were impressed with his flexibility and adaptability in taking on new challenges, as well as his clear aspiration to contribute positively to the business.
🏆 Apprentice Spotlight – Jodie Reeves
Jodie received special recognition after achieving two awards at the 2025 Lavender International Apprentice Recognition & Awards: Apprentice of the Year and Outstanding End Point Assessment. Starting as a Receptionist with no prior engineering, fabrication, welding, NDE or quality assurance experience, Jodie has progressed to become a qualified Quality Engineer, achieving her PCN Level 2 Weld Inspection qualification. A fantastic achievement.
🏆 Team Player of the Year – David McGlasson
Dave consistently puts the team’s success first, stepping up whenever needed and providing dependable, high-quality support. He collaborates effortlessly, communicates clearly and helps foster a positive and inclusive working environment. His professionalism, reliability and willingness to support anyone at any time make him an invaluable member of the team.
🏆 Rising Star of the Year – Olivia Middlemiss
Olivia has shown impressive growth in confidence over the past year, successfully managing multiple projects, including those involving challenging clients. She demonstrates excellent judgement, seeking advice from colleagues when needed and confidently challenging clients when scope requirements are exceeded. Her clear, professional project updates have been very well received and reflect her strong communication skills and commitment to delivering results.
🏆 Behind the Scenes Star of the Year – Lee Murthwaite
Lee consistently goes above and beyond to ensure material supply and certification processes run smoothly. Always polite, approachable and willing to help, he frequently steps outside his role to support projects and resolve issues. Despite the challenges of a growing business, Lee maintains a positive attitude and demonstrates exceptional dedication, making a significant impact on daily operations.
🏆 Mentor of the Year – Tyler Richardson
Over the past six months, Tyler has taken the initiative to mentor both Bendalls and NW Total apprentices, teaching valuable skills such as pipe welding. Despite being busy with his own project work, he always finds time to support, reassure and guide others. His clear advice, patience and willingness to go above and beyond demonstrate outstanding mentorship.
🏆 Business Impact of the Year – Jamie Bethwaite
During a recent Rolls-Royce audit, Jamie was commended for answering every question confidently and without hesitation. The auditor noted that, having visited hundreds of manufacturing companies, it was rare to see such strong quality capability, and that Jamie’s presence, enthusiasm and knowledge clearly demonstrated Bendalls’ commitment to quality.
Further to this, in March Bendalls successfully passed a week-long Rolls-Royce SMR quality audit with high praise and was subsequently added to the RR SMR approved supplier list. This achievement positions Bendalls for significant future work and highlights the ongoing impact that Jamie and his team have on the business.
Thank you to everyone across Bendalls who continues to contribute, support one another and make a real difference every day. 👏
