Horia Hirica, a Level 3 Digital Marketing apprentice with Gower College Swansea Training, has been named Apprentice of the Year – Advanced (Level 3) at Amazon’s Apprenticeship Award Ceremony in London.
The category recognises exceptional performance and impact. Winners are chosen through a rigorous process: apprentices must first be nominated by enough internal stakeholders, who back their nominations with data and examples linked to Amazon’s Leadership Principles. Horia was shortlisted and invited to the ceremony, where a panel of seven judges assessed his achievements against the other finalists.
Horia studies for a Level 3 Digital Marketing & Social Media qualification at the college while working as a Marketing Apprentice at Veeqo, an Amazon company. Studying alongside his job meant he could put what he learned into practice straight away, working on real campaigns, product launches and go-to-market strategies.
The judges highlighted Horia’s ownership of a new warehouse hardware product launch, a reusable personalised comms series for sellers, and in-app campaigns that converted trial sellers to paid and unlocked substantial recurring revenue.
The experience gave Horia the confidence to take ownership of projects and work with senior colleagues, helping his career move forward quickly. He has since joined the Amazon Apprenticeship Committee and is taking on new leadership opportunities.
Speaking after the ceremony, Horia said:
“Today’s been an absolutely incredible day full of smiles and networking opportunities, and I couldn’t be happier with how it turned out!”
Reflecting on his advice for others considering an apprenticeship, he added:
“Do not separate ‘work’ and ‘study’ in your head; the whole point is that they are the same thing.”
Head of Marketing at Veeqo Chris Rixon added:
"We’re delighted to see that Horia’s hard work has been recognised with this prestigious award. Our apprentices don't just build valuable experience here at Veeqo, they become valued and vital members of our team. We’re thrilled to see Horia's contribution to the business celebrated by the Amazon Apprentice Award committee''.
Paul Kift, Principal of Gower College Swansea, said:
“We are enormously proud of Horia. Winning this award is a fantastic achievement and shows what can be done when talented learners, supportive employers and dedicated College staff work together. Apprenticeships give people the chance to earn while they learn and build a career, and Horia is a brilliant example of that. Congratulations, Horia, from everyone at the college.”
Anyone interested in earning while they learn can find out more at one of the college’s upcoming open evenings. To register, visit gcs.ac.uk/events.