Celebrating Apprenticeship Excellence in Northern Ireland: NIAA2026 Now Open for Nominations
The Department for the Economy has officially launched the Northern Ireland Apprenticeship Awards 2026 (NIAA2026) — a prestigious annual celebration recognising the outstanding achievements of apprentices, employers, and training providers across the region.
The awards shine a spotlight on best practice in apprenticeship delivery and the incredible talent being nurtured through apprenticeship programmes. Winners will be announced at a special awards ceremony on Wednesday 25th March 2026 at the Titanic Hotel Belfast.
This year’s categories include:
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Apprentice of the Year (Levels 2–3)
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Higher Level Apprentice of the Year (Level 4+)
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Public Sector Apprentice of the Year
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Large Employer in partnership with their Training Provider (250+ employees)
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SME in partnership with their Training Provider (under 250 employees)
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Mentor Award
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Public Sector Employer in partnership with their Training Provider
Nominations close at 12:00 noon on Friday 24th October 2025 — late entries will not be accepted.
For full details on criteria and how to apply, please visit the Department for the Economy’s website: Northern Ireland Apprenticeship Awards | Department for the Economy
At the NAS, we know apprenticeships are essential to the future of shopfitting, interior contracting, and joinery so we strongly encourage our Northern Irish members to showcase their teams, projects, and people by putting forward nominations.
