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.
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.
Victoria highlighted Jay’s proactive approach, noting how he has not only embraced his role but has consistently exceeded expectations, volunteering to support wider workforce initiatives and representing the team at events and training opportunities. A particular strength has been Jay’s innovative use of social media, especially LinkedIn, to showcase his work and experiences. Victoria recalls how through Jay’s online presence, he has played an important role in amplifying the profile of the team, promoting the wider HR service, and helping the council connect with a broader audience within the local community.
Given his enthusiasm and effectiveness in using digital platforms to communicate and engage, it was a fitting recognition when Jay was named the Social Media winner at this year’s Local Government Apprentice of the Year event. According to Jay, he saw his attendance at the event as a valuable opportunity to network, learn from others, and challenge himself in a new environment.
Jay described day one as fast-paced, with the event quickly pushing him out of his comfort zone, particularly during the initial networking activity. However, he responded with resilience, remaining calm, adapting to the situation, continuing to engage positively with the activity and using his listening skills to take on board what the other apprentices were contributing.
I was motivated to take part in the event because I wanted to gain recognition for my work and also bring recognition to my local council on a national scale
As the day progressed, Jay’s confidence grew as he actively contributed his own knowledge during team activities, bringing his own perspective that combined both health and safety and environmental insight. The event’s theme of ‘Innovation’ strongly resonated with Jay. He felt that it reinforced the importance of continuous improvement, creativity, and collaboration - values that align closely with his own role. By the end of day one, he felt proud, motivated and energised, recognising how much he had grown in such a short time. On day two, Jay was inspired by the guest speakers, particularly the message from Sam Holdcroft, who started his apprenticeship journey in 2017 and is now a Team Leader at Stoke on Trenty City Council. According to Sam, there is often an ambition post apprenticeship to move on to the next role or level apprenticeship as quickly as possible. He highlighted the importance of remembering that although it’s key to look at the next step, sometimes making a sideways step is also a good opportunity to take. Jay said:
Sam Holdcroft stood out the most to me because he was also an apprentice and had moved into different fields to gain additional skills and experience. It showed me that careers are not always linear and that it is important to stay open to opportunities and continuous development
When the award announcements began, hearing his name called as the winner of the Social Media prize came as a moment of genuine surprise to Jay, stating that the award meant a lot to him. Looking ahead, Jay is committed to continuing his professional development within local government, building both his technical expertise and his ability to engage others. With greater confidence and a broader understanding of how communication drives innovation,Jay feels well positioned for future opportunities. Through his attendance at the event, Jay has hopefully not only gained the national recognition that he was seeking but also developed a skillset that will be essential throughout his career in local government. Following Jay’s success, when asked if Victoria would recommend the Local Government Apprentice of Year event to other councils, she said,
It is really important that local government promotes itself as providing far reaching and meaningful careers within local communities. Apprenticeships are a core part of workforce planning and a means to grow and develop people coming into local government and those who have been with us for a long time to develop new skills needed to maintain organisational resilience for the future. Without skilled people our services cannot be delivered. It is an amazing opportunity for apprentices from across local government to share their experiences and celebrate lifelong learning.” - Victoria Deacon, Assistant Director People & Corporate Services, Leicester City Council