‘Suited, Booted and Reputed’ Jacob is awarded highly commended at the Cornwall Apprenticeship Awards 2026.
Every so often, you meet someone whose determination, resilience and sheer hard work make you stop and think: this is what potential looks like. For us at Aztek, that person is Jacob Ibbetson – and now the whole of Cornwall knows it too.
Because this year, at the Cornwall Apprenticeship Awards 2026, Jacob reached the final three in the Digital and IT Apprentice of the Year sponsored by Cornwall Council. This was a category that saw 73 people nominated from across the county. And it was Jacob and just two others who shone bright on the shortlist published in November.
We couldn’t be prouder.
A Night to Remember
The awards ceremony took place in the stunning setting of the Eden Project – a fitting venue for what turned out to be an extra‑special evening. This year marked the 10‑year anniversary of the Cornwall Apprenticeship Awards and was also the first time Aztek has ever nominated an apprentice, which made the evening feel like a real milestone in our own journey too.
Talking about milestones, this was also the first time Jacob had ever been spotted in a suit. For a man normally dressed head to toe in hi-vis, persuading him into formalwear was arguably one of Aztek’s biggest challenges to date. But thanks to some ‘Jacob whispering’ from our marketing team, he was soon buttoning his collar, knotting his tie and straightening his jacket — and we have to admit, he really looked the part. (We did say you’d scrub up well, Jacob 😉). And Jacob certainly wasn’t short of support, being joined by Aztek team members Tim, Patryk, Petar and Keira, as well as his partner Taylor.
The atmosphere at the Eden Project was lively and genuinely supportive. With over 200 attendees, including 45 shortlisted nominees, every person who took to the stage was met with genuine cheers — a true celebration of local talent and community spirit. We were also delighted to share a table with the brilliant team from Hiyield, who were incredibly supportive of Jacob. And of course, we cheered them on when they won SME Employer of the Year, a thoroughly well‑deserved win.
A Journey Worth Celebrating
Jacob’s path has been anything but easy. From completing his Network Cable Installer Level 3 Apprenticeship with a distinction, to helping Aztek build an entirely new in-house infrastructure service, his contribution has been significant and deeply valued.
All this happened while he navigated significant health challenges – heart issues, shoulder surgery, long-distance travel for assessments, and a determination that refused to give in. Jacob kept showing up. And kept pushing forward.
So, to see his name up there as an awards finalist? Let’s just say that the Aztek team felt very, very proud.
What This Recognition Means
For Jacob, this achievement at the awards is recognition of his commitment, his growth and his incredible resilience. For Aztek, it’s another reminder of why we nurture talent and invest in people — because the results speak for themselves.
And for our clients, it’s confirmation that the person shaping and delivering our infrastructure services is someone whose excellence has been recognised at a county level.
Says Jacob, “Getting into the top three for the awards was a huge achievement for me. I love my work, and the recognition was gratifying. It’s something that’s really going to spur me on to keep achieving. I’m so grateful to the team for all their support and for believing in me enough to put me forward.“
Adds Tim Dunkley, Service Delivery Director, “Congratulations to Jacob. His impact on the business has been remarkable and his achievement at the awards was well deserved. I’ve been in the business for over a decade and someone like Jacob does not come along every day and it’s great he’s been recognised.”
We’d like to offer huge congratulations to Tamsin Allen from Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust for not only winning Digital and IT Apprentice of the Year but also taking home Apprentice Achiever of the Year. We’d also like to congratulate Jacob’s fellow shortlisted nominee, Madison Hayward‑Smith from Cornwall Group.
You can view the full list of winners and finalists on the Truro and Penwith College website, who organise and host the awards each year.
And finally…
Read the full story of Jacob’s challenges and considerable achievements in our Staff Stories blog post.
