Chris Pritchard, owner of the chain of five nurseries that began training childcarers in 1982, beat off competition from several other sectors to win the Business Award for Commitment to Modern Apprenticeships. Meanwhile Sam Hackett, who is now working towards an Advanced Modern Apprenticeship at a Jancett nursery, made it a double celebration by winning the accolade for the best modern apprentice in health and social care for Jace Training.
They received their awards at a ceremony at Addington Palace, Surrey, from Vic Seddon, executive director of the London South LSC, and Capital Radio DJ Margherita Taylor.
Mr Seddon said that Mrs Pritchard 'had recognised that the work-based training route would empower young people who may not have previously been considered academic to follow a path of education and achievement'.
Mrs Pritchard, who works with the Early Years National Training Organisation and has sat on the National Steering Group for MAs in childcare, currently has 68 modern apprentices - 41 of them employed members of staff - training at the Jancett group. Its training organisation, Jace, now covers a wide area of south London and the south-east.
The awards, which were preceded by an exhibition for young people and employers showing the merits of modern apprenticeships, also included recognition for those working in other sectors including tourism, retail and distribution, construction and customer services.