Local Government Association

The 2026 Local Government Apprentice of the Year winner - Leena Futter - began her journey in local government in October 2022 as a casual Recreational Assistant. This led on to her first apprenticeship opportunity as a Leisure and Fitness Apprentice. In September 2025, Leena then took a bold step into her current role as a Corporate Project Administrator Apprentice at Borough Council of Kings Lynn and West Norfolk and is now undertaking her second apprenticeship, level 3 Business Administrator.

One of this year’s Local Government Apprentice of the Year runners up is Katy Howlett, a level 3 Business Administrator apprentice at Plymouth City Council who began her journey into local government just eight months ago, when she secured an apprenticeship at The Box, Plymouth.

Victoria Deacon, Assistant Director for People & Corporate Services, nominated Jay Chauhan, a Level 3 Health and Safety apprentice at Leicester City Council, for the Local Government Apprentice of the Year 2026 event in recognition of the significant contribution he has made to the Health and Safety Team.

When Victoria Grant first considered applying for the Local Government Apprentice of the Year event 2026, she had the same doubts many apprentices experience. Would she know enough? Did she have enough experience? Would she be able to contribute? Yet her experience quickly taught her an important lesson: the event is not about being an expert; it is about bringing your own skills, experiences and perspectives and applying them as part of a team.