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Star wholesaler, Jessica, is Retail Week’s Apprentice of the Year 2017

October 6, 2017
Photo of Jessica Heppleston winning Retail Week Rising Star Award 2017

Talented Wakefield apprentice, Jessica Heppleston, 17, who’s carving out a career in electro-technical wholesaling, was named Retail Week’s Apprentice of the Year 2017 at a glittering ceremony at London’s Grosvenor House Hotel on Park Lane yesterday, Thursday 5 October 2017.

Jess’s apprenticeship was made possible thanks to the EDA’s Training & Apprenticeship Programme, which is available to all EDA members and affiliates through our partners EDA Apprenticeships Plus. Jess’s training was managed by Sheffield-based training provider, The Source Skills Academy.

National finalists

“Just amazing!” said Jess, who works for electrical wholesalers, Jack Hinton’s, (part of national wholesale chain Edmundson Electrical) after beating a shortlist of 6 finalists from top retailers:

  • Lucy Phillips, Boots
  • Billy Bowen, Co-op
  • Charlotte Fretwell, Karen Millen
  • Natalie Eccles, N Brown Group
  • Chloe Hopkins, Tesco

Jessica with (left to right) her Dad, Mum and Matt Ward of Edmundson Electrical

Profile raising

Matt Ward, Commercial Manager/Training & Development at Edmundson Electrical added,

“Jess is typical of the bright, motivated young people we want to attract to our business. To win a national competition at such a young age – she’s just 17 – is a fantastic achievement.

“Electrical wholesaling doesn’t often make the headlines, but in this case I hope her success will help to raise our profile and encourage others to find out more. Edmundson Electrical is fully committed to significant ongoing investment in its many recruitment and training programmes which, in turn, open doors to greatly rewarding and successful careers with the Company.”

“Bright future”

Dianne Wainwright, Head of Operations at The Source said of Jessica’s success:

“Jessica is a fantastic apprentice who is truly a great example of what young people can achieve through an Apprenticeship.

“We have no doubt she has a bright future ahead of her with Jack Hinton Electrical and Edmundson Electrical and we couldn’t be more proud of what she has achieved.”

Tricia Henry, Operations Director at EDA Apprenticeships Plus, concluded,

“It’s just the best news. As soon as we recruited Jess we knew she had amazing potential.”

Watch Jessica’s story and be inspired

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