RSB’s Apprentice of the Year Award 2025 celebrates outstanding winners
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The RSB is excited to announce that four exceptional apprentices have been recognised in the 2025 Apprentice of the Year Award for their outstanding work.
This award celebrates the hard work and dedication of apprentices in their specific fields and showcases apprenticeships as a highly valuable career path.
Winners
The award is split into two categories acknowledging the work of apprentices at different levels in the sector. Group 1 for the Level 3 & 4 category* and Group 2 for individuals studying at the Level 5+ category**.
Group 1
- The Apprentice of the Year Award for Group 1 went to Tamara Martinez AMRSB, Apprentice Laboratory Technician, Nottingham Trent University
- The Highly Commended award for this category went to Rebecca Stokes, Laboratory Technician, University of York
Group 2
- The Apprentice of the Year Award for Group 2 was awarded to Rebecca Bojarski, Laboratory Scientist, Vertex Pharmaceuticals
- The Highly Commended award in this category went to Pia Boeber, Laboratory Science Apprentice, AstraZeneca
Clockwise from top left: Tamara Martinez, Rebecca Bojarski, Pia Boeber, Rebecca Stokes.
Winner of the Group 1 award, Tamara Martinez, said: “Winning the Apprentice of the Year Award means so much to me, as it shows that the hard work, dedication, and perseverance I have put into my work have truly paid off. An apprenticeship is a unique journey where you are constantly learning while contributing to real-world work. At times, it can feel as though you are always one step behind, still finding your feet, but this award proves that growth and progress are recognised and celebrated along the way.
Apprenticeships offer an invaluable opportunity to learn while working, to take part in meaningful projects, and to grow both technical skills and confidence.”
Group 2 winner, Rebecca Bojarski, said: “I am extremely proud to be recognised as RSB Apprentice of the Year! It is an honour to receive this award, which reflects my personal and professional growth over the last three years as an apprentice in the High-Throughput Biology team at Vertex [Pharmaceuticals], and my dedication to promoting apprenticeships through outreach and volunteering. This award also recognises the support and collaboration I have experienced along the way, and I am grateful to my line manager, colleagues, and training provider.
I hope this moment highlights the value that apprentices bring to scientific research and inspires others to consider apprenticeships in the life sciences.”
The winners of each group receive a £250 cash prize, one year of free RSB membership, and a free application to either the RSci or RSciTech register.
The highly commended awardees each receive one year of free RSB membership and a free application to either the RSci or RSciTech register.
Judges
This year’s competition was judged by:
- Dr Jacqui Piner CBiol FRSB: RSB trustee and former GlaxoSmithKline Scientific Director
- Dr Hilary Jeffreys CSci CChem FRSC: Consultant, Chair of the Science Council Registration Authority
- Matthew Garland RSciTech MRSB: Laboratory Director at the Veterinary Pathology Group
- Patricia Kingston CBiol RSci MRSB: Seahaven Academy Science Department
- Rebecca Baldwin CSci MRSB: Scientific Officer at Solinatra
This year’s apprentices impressed the judges with the quality of work produced, their engagement in professional development, and their dedication to inspiring others. The standard of applications was extremely high, highlighting this year’s apprentices as a credit to their associated institutions. The RSB thanks the judges for their time and expertise.
The four recipients will receive their prizes at the RSB’s Awards Ceremony on 15 October, held at the House of Commons, London, as part of Biology Week 2025.
* Group 1: Levels 3 and 4 in England, Northern Ireland and Wales. Scottish levels SCQF 5-7. Irish levels 5 and 6.
** Group 2: Levels 5+ in England, Northern Ireland and Wales. Scottish levels SCQF 8+. Irish levels 7+.