Celebrating Excellence & Black Heritage Talent
.png)
We're on the lookout for the next Excellence & Black Heritage Apprentice of the Year.
In partnership with Tesco we're inviting students and young people from across the UK to take the next step towards an exciting future. This award celebrates talented, ambitious young people who are ready to challenge barriers, seize opportunities and make a lasting impact.
If you're eager to learn, motivated to grow and passionate about building a successful career, this is your chance to shine. We believe talent can come from anywhere, and we're committed to helping future leaders unlock their potential and thrive.
Could you be our next Excellence & Black Heritage Apprentice of the Year?
Enter if you are:
- Considering an apprenticeship as your next step after leaving school or college
- Studying at a school, college or sixth form in the UK
- From a Black Heritage background
- Be in Year 11, 12 or 13 (or equivalent) or aged up to 20 years old at time of application
.jpg)
prizes
What could you win?
You could win the opportunity to fast-track your future with Tesco!
Winners will gain:
- An exclusive in-person insight day at Tesco, where you’ll get behind the scenes and discover what it’s really like to work for one of the UK’s biggest retailers.
- 3 x Mentoring sessions with a Tesco professional, or apprentice, giving you the chance to learn from inspiring Tesco colleagues.
- Direct entry to the Assessment Centre application stage for an Apprenticeship Level 2-store via Stronger Starts
what it takes
What makes an award winner?
A Future Apprentice of the Year winner is someone who demonstrates outstanding potential, a passion for learning, and a determination to succeed. They approach challenges with resilience, embrace new opportunities with confidence, and consistently strive to develop themselves both personally and professionally.
They lead through their actions, support those around them, and champion inclusion by creating environments where everyone feels valued and respected. Above all, they use their skills, experiences, and ambition to make a positive impact in their school, workplace, or community, inspiring others along the way.
A great winner isn't defined by where they've come from, but by their drive to grow, their commitment to helping others, and the bright future they are building for themselves and those around them.
FROM OUR PARTNER
Tesco and Celebrating Excellence & Black Heritage Talent
At Tesco, we’re more than just a retailer - we’re a team of people passionate about serving customers, communities, and the planet a little better every day. We’re one of the UK’s leading retailers, and our Early Careers programmes are all about creating opportunities for people from every background to start and grow their careers with us. We partnered with the Future Apprentice of the Year Awards because it reflects what matters most to us - inclusion and opportunity for all. This award is especially important because it shines a light on talent from underrepresented communities, including Black Heritage apprentices, which is a key focus of our Black Action Plan. For us, it’s about breaking down barriers and making sure everyone has the chance to thrive, no matter their starting point. Our apprenticeships focus on three key areas:
- Stronger Starts Apprenticeships – designed to support school leavers and those from underrepresented groups
- Finance Apprenticeships – for those who want to build a career in financial operations.
- Degree Apprenticeships in our Commercial Areas.
We hire hundreds of apprentices every year, and we recruit based on potential, not experience, so our programmes are open to everyone.
For more information about our apprenticeships, click here.
How do I win?
Start your journey
To apply, you’ll need to:
Register for the Future Apprentice of the Year
Deadline: 12pm (midday), Monday 15 February 2027
Online tests
Submit by
15
February
2027
Remember, please make sure you allow enough time to complete the whole application before the deadline.
If you’re successful in progressing to the next stage, we’ll be in touch with details of what happens next.
Assessment
If you successfully pass the initial application and screening stage, your application will be reviewed by Tesco.
From there, you could be invited to take part in networking, interviews, an assessment centre or other activities designed to help you showcase your skills and get to know Tesco..
Full details will be given to successful students.
Celebrate your success
Made it to the final? Congratulations!
The final shortlisted students will be invited to join us at the Awards Ceremony on 9 April 2027, where we’ll celebrate their achievements and reveal the winner of each award.
Could you be taking home the trophy? Good luck!
