Award winning Gemma is pride of county council and East Challow

Gemma Tuckey, who works in the Contracts Team, in Joint Commissioning based at County Hall has been awarded the Special Recognition Award at the Oxfordshire Apprentice Awards 2017.

She was one of hundreds of apprentices from across Oxfordshire to be nominated for the award. She joined Oxfordshire County Council in September 2014.

Gemma, a resident of East Challow near Wantage, and a former pupil of King Alfred's Sports Academy in the town, said: “Prior to my apprenticeship I studied health and social care at college, where I got low grades, and was struggling to see a light at the end of the tunnel. I decided to choose an apprenticeship and I began as an intermediate apprentice studying Business Administration for a year in the Engagement Team at Oxfordshire County Council.

“I decided that I wanted to carry out the Advanced Business Administration apprenticeship so I stayed on in my team and carried this out for another year.

“I worked hard in my role and dealing with large projects and issues in my day to day work helped me gain the experience to work in my job today, as a Quality and Contracts Officer in Learning Disabilities.

“I never thought I would win this award but I did. I am so proud of my journey and am grateful for all opportunities that The Council has handed me in the last 3 years."

Kate Terroni, Director for Adult Social Care at Oxfordshire County Council, said: “We are very proud of Gemma and we know that she would like to thank everyone who has supported her to achieve this award.

“Gemma is a bundle of energy and her success shows how we at Oxfordshire County Council put time and effort in to helping members of staff grow and mature. Gemma is very much ‘one of our own’. I have had a number of dealings with her over the last few years have been very impressed.”

Notes to editors

Since 2006 Oxfordshire County Council has recruited more than 300 apprentices across all of its services. Apprenticeships provide an opportunity for the council to develop its workforce and provide employment and training opportunities for individuals in the wider community. All apprentices are paid a salary and given the opportunity to complete nationally recognised qualifications.