The winners of the Northern Ireland Apprenticeship Awards were announced at a ceremony held in Belfast this week.
Chef, Grace Dugan (20) a culinary arts apprentice at South Eastern Regional College, employed at Culloden Estate and Spa, was crowned Higher Level Apprentice of the Year 2026.
No stranger to success, the award is hot on the heels of Grace's win at the UK-wide Eat Wild Young Chef Competition, held in London in November.
Grace, from Belfast, is employed by The Culloden Hotel and has been studying at SERC’s Bangor Campus for the past four years, since starting on a Level 3 Diploma in Professional Cookery.
Engineer Paula Bamford (Northern Regional College) won Apprentice of the Year, and Public Sector Apprentice of the Year went to horticulturist Jacob Meekin (CAFRE).
Speaking at the event, Economy Minister Dr Caoimhe Archibald praised the 2026 finalists and highlighted the critical role that apprenticeships play in strengthening the local economy. The Minister said, “Apprenticeships are central to building the skilled workforce our economy needs to grow, to innovate and to stay competitive on a global stage.
“Today is a celebration of excellence. It is about recognising the individuals and organisations who are not only transforming their own futures, but also shaping the future of our economy. Through their hard work, creativity and commitment, they leave a lasting legacy of skills, productivity and economic benefit.”
Congratulations to Grace from everyone at SERC!
