Making Space Named Care SME Employer of the Year at the 2025 Paragon Skills Apprenticeship Awards
Published 17 September 2025
We’re proud to announce that Making Space has been named Care SME Employer of the Year at the 2025 Paragon Skills Apprenticeship Awards!
This award recognises our ongoing commitment to nurturing talent, supporting career development, and ensuring our apprentices are empowered to succeed. It’s a significant moment for our teams across the country and a testament to the hard work and dedication of everyone involved in our apprenticeship journey.
Paragon Skills is a national apprenticeship provider with over 20 years’ experience and a strong focus on the Care and Education sectors. They support more than 7,000 learners a year, working with employers to deliver high-quality, tailored training. Their Skills Apprenticeship Awards celebrate outstanding achievement in apprenticeships across sectors including social care. This year’s Employer Awards were split into SME and Large Employer categories, recognising organisations of all sizes that go above and beyond to support their apprentices.
Our winning nomination came from Jackie Whittall, Business Development Manager at Paragon Skills, who said:
Making Space continues to invest in and showcase apprenticeships as a key part of staff development, with a focus on placing the right person on the right programme and offering robust support throughout the learning journey.
They’ve seen a significant rise in achievement rates - from 45% to 63% - thanks to clear internal processes, including an application process that confirms learner choice and line manager engagement. They also promote shared experiences, encouraging conversations between new, current, and past apprentices to build peer confidence and engagement.
We are truly grateful to Jackie for her nomination and ongoing support.
Anna Evans, Learning & Development Manager at Making Space, shared her excitement at the win:
As an organisation that truly values the development of our employees, we see apprenticeships as an invaluable tool for ensuring our teams have the appropriate skills to excel in their roles.
We’re super excited to be nominated, and even more thrilled to win! It’s shows that the processes we’ve developed over the last two-plus years are working. We currently have 67 live apprentices across a variety of programmes, from Care Levels 2 to 5 to Community Health and Wellbeing Workers, and even a Data Analyst apprenticeship.
While our total numbers are lower than they were 2–3 years ago, our completion rate is much higher…and that’s what really matters.
As well as the Paragon Team, I would also like to say a big thank you to our Learning & Development Assistant, Kerry Campbell, who is always just a phone call away to help apprentices with any issues or questions. And, of course, thank you to all the managers who support their staff through their qualifications. It’s a big commitment, and they provide the guidance, support – and importantly, time – needed for our apprentices to succeed.
Rachel Peacock, CEO of Making Space, also shared her pride in the team:
This award reflects the deep-rooted values of Making Space. We’re passionate about investing in our people, and this recognition from Paragon Skills confirms that our approach is making a real difference. I’m so proud of our teams, from the apprentices themselves to those who support them every step of the way.
Are you ready to make a real difference in people’s lives while being part of a workplace where you’re truly valued? Then come and join us at Making Space. Explore rewarding career opportunities here.