KMF Crowns Apprenticeship Champions in Largest Ever Awards Ceremony

KMF has crowned a series of apprentice superstars, with their largest ever awards ceremony at Double Tree by Hilton on Thursday 2nd July 2026.

The KMF Apprenticeship Awards was the ideal lead-up to the 20th cohort of apprentices starting later this year.

Winners from the all-star ceremony included 3rd year apprentice Sean Cashmore, who took home the coveted Apprentice of the Year 2025-26.

The Team Leader Choice Awards winners were:
• Joe Mullor, 4th year apprentice
• Reece Bloor, 3rd year apprentice
• Lucy Hughes, 2nd year apprentice
• Steven Barlow, 1st year apprentice

Harry Cresswell won the Charity Champion of the Year accolade, having raised £790 as part of KMF’s fundraising efforts for The Big Sleep Out. This was the record amount of any participant of the event, and formed part of KMF’s overall total of £4000, which was shared between the Stoke City FC Foundation and other local charities. He was presented with his award by Stoke City Football Club COO Simon King as well as a commemorative Stoke City shirt.

The John Booth Achievement Award went to 3rd year apprentice Reece Price, with 4th year apprentice Edward Paget winning the Special Achievement Award.

Best Individual for Commitment Award went to 2nd year apprentice Millie Richards-Snape, with 1st year apprentice Steven Barlow also being highly commended in this category.

The evening, attended by over 150 guests, showcased KMF’s commitment to
apprenticeships and the continued professional development of all teams.

Gareth Higgins, Managing Director at KMF Group commented,

“I’m incredibly proud of our apprenticeship scheme, and without the commitment over the last 20 years KMF wouldn’t be what it is today. Our leading apprenticeship programme is a catalyst for growth and is crucial for succession planning with many of our senior roles held by ex-apprentices. The KMF apprenticeship is used right across our business from Level 2 – Level 7 and is a strategic element of our workforce development. It is a real honour to celebrate our apprentice’s success.”

KMF has a rich history of apprentices going on to senior roles, including Sam Dutton, who started at the company at the age of 16 and 17 years later is now a Shift Production Manager, having completed a Level 5 apprenticeship.

“I wasn’t interested in further education, so I decided to take on an apprenticeship at KMF. I’m more of a hands-on person and learn better by being shown a task. After starting at 16, I’m 33 now and a Shift Production Manager thanks to my apprenticeship,”

Sam Dutton said.

KMF is the largest OFSTED inspected, independently run engineering apprenticeship programme in Staffordshire.

The company earned the highly coveted Strong Standard in two areas and attained Expected Standard in three areas from their recent OFSTED inspection.

With a firm commitment to corporate social responsibility, KMF apprentices get involved in a range of activities for the local community including:

• Creating everlasting flowers for the Dougie Mac Hospice
• Creating everlasting poppies for Remembrance Day
• The Spitfire project on the Etruria Valley Link Road on Festival Park
• Manufacturing and maintaining the Gulf War Memorial at the National Memorial Arboretum

The KMF Apprenticeship Awards evening was kindly sponsored by West Midlands
Apprentice Ambassador Network, NSCG, Stoke on Trent College, University of Staffordshire and Staffordshire Chambers of Commerce.

The KMF Apprenticeships Awards was hosted by Dan Townley, from 6 Towns Radio and Port Vale FC.

KMF will welcome a new cohort of apprentices later this year.