National Apprenticeship Week: Torbay apprentice shortlisted for top award

A South West Water apprentice from Torbay has been highlighted during National Apprenticeship Week after being named a finalist for Apprentice of the Year at the 2026 Harper Adams Apprenticeship Awards.

Tom Howard, 21, is a second-year apprentice completing a Level 6 apprenticeship at Harper Adams University, working towards a degree in Rural Enterprise and Land Management while working in South West Water’s Estates Team.

After finishing his A-levels, Mr Howard said he wanted to continue studying while gaining practical experience in the sector he hoped to work in.

He joined South West Water in 2024, where his role involves supporting landowners and land managers when work needs to be carried out on private land, combining office-based and field-based activity.

Speaking about his experience, Mr Howard said: “I think the apprenticeship has been a really great thing for me because you're doing the job whilst you're studying about the subject. You're able to put what you’re learning into practice straight away. It really helps with your understanding of the subject and my confidence has really developed since starting.”

Reacting to being shortlisted for the award, he added: “I’m really proud to have been shortlisted for Apprentice of the Year and grateful for the support and opportunities I’ve had at South West Water and at Harper Adams University.”

His manager, Jolyon Halford, South West Water’s Lead Estates Manager, said Mr Howard had “fully embraced both sides of his apprenticeship”.

He said: “Tom has fully embraced both sides of his apprenticeship – excelling at Harper Adams and making a real impact within the South West Water Estates team. He’s able to perform strongly in his academic studies, demonstrating the discipline to balance his workload, studying and life effectively.

“Tom has really bought into his apprenticeship, consistently showing commitment, maturity, and a willingness to develop and learn. Being shortlisted for Apprentice of the Year is a fantastic achievement that reflects the esteem in which he is held by his peers, university staff and colleagues at South West Water.”

National Apprenticeship Week runs from 9 to 15 February and aims to showcase the benefits of apprenticeships for young people and employers across the UK.

As part of the week, South Devon College has been highlighting the success of its “100 Apprenticeships in 100 Days” campaign, which saw more than 100 apprentices enrolled with local employers since its launch late last year.

Speaking about the wider value of apprenticeships in coastal industries, a spokesperson for Brixham Trawler Agents Ltd said: “Apprenticeships and training schemes are vital for developing the next generation of fishermen and ensuring the long-term future of our local fishing community.”

They added: “Our main role is to sort and grade the fish for the boat owners and then sell it for them. There isn’t an apprenticeship that covers this, however, we are working with South Devon College to hopefully develop one.”

The company is also involved in the upcoming Deckhand Discovery Day on Thursday 18 February 2026. Organised by the South Western Fish Producers Organisation, it gives attendees guided tours of Brixham Fish Market, offering a real taste of life at sea and insight into careers in the fishing and marine industries.