A Southampton student has been recognised for designing an app for Hampshire & Isle of Wight Constabulary.

Benita Raphaels, a T Level student from South Hampshire College Group, was honoured at the National Apprenticeship and Skills Awards on Thursday, October 10, receiving a highly commended trophy in the Gatsby T Level Student of the Year category.

The 17-year-old said: "I’m so happy to walk away with a trophy, especially as I haven’t even finished my work placement yet.

"It’s the first time they included a T Level category in the National Apprenticeship and Skills Awards and it was so good to see employers celebrate T Levels and positively recognise them in this way.

"I’d like to thank my college lecturers and employer for all their support and for believing in me."

This accolade acknowledges her work in creating an inventory tracking app for the police force, which is now used throughout the constabulary.

The student, currently in the second year of her Level 3 Digital Production, Software Design and Development course, stood out among competitors, many of whom were older and had already completed their T Level qualifications.

The ceremony, attended by over 150 guests, honoured winners across 11 categories, with the highly commended award and the overall category winner accolade up for grabs.

All winners will now compete at the national ceremony in London on Wednesday, November 27.

The National Apprenticeship and Skills Awards, celebrating its 21st anniversary in 2024, acknowledged T Level students and employers for the first time this year.

The awards aim to highlight the achievements of exceptional apprentices and T Level students, skills champions, and apprenticeship and T Level employers.

With more than 1,300 entries from sectors such as the public sector, construction, health, science, IT, and digital, the finalists serve as role models in the apprenticeship and T Level fields, showcasing best practices in recruitment, quality training, diversity, and career progression.

The awards ceremony celebrated the achievements of apprentices and T Level students, who have demonstrated high-quality training practices, recruitment excellence, and career progression.