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Kent Apprenticeship Awards: Ashley Kelly
We are proud to announce that Ashley Kelly was placed as a finalist in the Kent Apprenticeship Awards 2026.
Ash has shown exceptional capabilities in just 18 months – starting as a complete IT beginner and ending as a highly capable First Line Support Engineer. He has built strong technical knowledge, developed excellent customer service skills, and earned the trust and respect of colleagues and senior engineers. In February 2026, he successfully completed his apprenticeship with a well-deserved Distinction, reflecting both his commitment and ability.
Ash’s apprenticeship has had a positive impact both on Select Technology as an organisation and on his own career. He has received impressive customer feedback and built strong relationships across all levels of the company, earning the respect of colleagues and senior staff alike.
Scott Newbury, Service Desk Manager
“Ash is one of the most impressive apprentices I’ve ever worked with. From his first day, he has consistently shown maturity, initiative and professionalism well beyond what you would normally expect from someone new to the industry. His attitude to learning is exceptional. He asks the right questions, takes feedback on board immediately and always pushes himself to do better.
Ash has earned every step of his career progression. Offering him a permanent role was an easy decision, and I have no doubt that he will continue to grow into a highly capable engineer – potentially into project roles, where he has already shown natural talent. I couldn’t recommend him more strongly for this award.”
“Ash’s apprenticeship journey is everything this award is designed to recognise. He entered the business with no previous IT experience, having taken a bold step to leave retail and retrain for a new career. In just 18 months, he has transformed into a confident, capable and highly valued engineer, completing his apprenticeship with a Distinction and earning a permanent position within the Service Desk team.”
Simon Moore, Technical Services Director
About the Kent Apprenticeship Awards
The Kent Apprenticeship Awards is the county’s biggest celebration of apprenticeship excellence, recognising apprentices, employers and training providers.