The Black Heritage Future Apprentice of the Year Award

Are you the Black Heritage Future Apprentice of the Year?

We’re searching schools, colleges and sixth forms across the UK to find the Black Heritage Future Apprentice of the Year! In partnership with Tesco, we’re looking for ambitious young people who are ready to take their first steps into the world of work. We want to hear from students who are curious, motivated and hungry to learn, people who are ready to grab opportunities, challenge themselves and make their mark.

Whether you already know what you want to do or you’re still figuring it out, this is your chance to show us what you’re capable of, build your confidence and get recognised for your potential.

If you’re ready to push yourself, make the most of every opportunity and take the first step towards an exciting future, this could be the award for you.

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)

Apply

prizes

What could you win?

Fast-track your future with Tesco!

Winners will get an exclusive head start on an apprenticeship with Tesco, including:

Direct entry to our Discovery Centres, with opportunities including a Level 2 Store Apprenticeship through Stronger Starts or a Degree Apprenticeship based at our Hertfordshire offices.
Mentoring from the founders of Tesco’s Black Action Plan, giving you the chance to learn from inspiring Tesco colleagues.
An exclusive 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.

what it takes

What makes an award winner?

We’re looking for someone who believes in their potential and isn’t afraid to give things a go. You might not have everything figured out yet – and that’s okay. What matters is that you’re curious, willing to learn and ready to make the most of every opportunity.

Our winner will be someone who takes on challenges, learns from their experiences and keeps pushing themselves to grow. They’ll be motivated to develop new skills, build their confidence and make the most of opportunities to learn – whether that’s in the classroom, through work experience or by getting involved in their community.

We’re looking for someone who works well with others and isn’t afraid to get stuck in. They’ll listen to different ideas, support the people around them and understand the importance of being part of a team. They’ll also be ready to take responsibility, try new things and find ways to make a positive difference to the people and communities around them.

Our winner will have the ambition to build a bright future for themselves and the confidence to help others along the way. They’ll be open to learning from the people around them, willing to step outside their comfort zone and excited to discover what they’re capable of.

At Tesco, we want to help young people develop their skills, build their confidence and get hands-on experience as they take their first steps into the world of work.

If you’re ambitious, curious and ready to take your next step, this could be your chance to stand out.

Review application

FROM OUR PARTNER

Tesco and the Black Heritage Future Apprentice of the Year Award

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 Programme 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.

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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

Deadline:

February

2027

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!

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