The Stryker team, based at Carrigtwohill, Cork, is celebrating after winning three awards at the Champions in the Workplace Awards, held by the National Apprenticeship Office on Thursday, 5 December at the Radisson Blu St. Helen’s Hotel in Dublin.
Having received the three national Generation Apprenticeship awards, the company is now recognised for supporting and driving apprentice success, seeing off competition from 80 outstanding nominees this year.
Stryker’s Lorraine Powell won the overall national Generation Apprenticeship Champion in the Workplace Award for 2024 in the spectacular ceremony that welcomed over 200 guests from Ireland’s business and FET community. Lorraine also took home the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Awards, stating that she was “truly honoured” to receive the recognition.
Colleague Mick Dreelan won an outstanding Apprenticeship Enabler Award for exceptional work in supporting apprentices.
“Our team at Stryker works hard to promote apprenticeships and empower apprentices of all ages and a diversity of backgrounds to unlock their potential as apprentices and become confident in their knowledge and skills. This award is a great recognition of this work. Thank you,” stated Mr Dreelan afterwards.
Now in its sixth year, the awards celebrate exceptional businesses across the country who are passionate about supporting and developing the talent and success of apprentices. Representing their company, five outstanding employees plus two teams received awards at the ceremony, including Lorraine Powell, who was also presented with the Apprenticeship Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Advocate category for her work as an advocate for inclusion in Stryker.
The apprenticeship route is growing in stature nationwide, and this year 10,000 employers are investing in apprentices and apprenticeship training across 75+ occupations, developing the talent needed to support businesses and Ireland’s economy and society. A highly valuable mode of workplace learning, apprenticeships are recognised by employers nationwide as a really successful source of talent development and retention.
