Lucy Harold, Applied Biomedical Science BSc Honours apprentice at the University of Westminster, has been named finalist in the Higher/Degree Apprentice of the Year category of the Oxfordshire Apprenticeship Awards 2026 which spotlights the impact of apprenticeships, celebrating outstanding apprentices, employers, training providers and skills champions.
The Higher/Degree Apprentice of the Year category, sponsored by Grundon, recognises apprentices in their first-year and above who have been in post for at least nine months and have excelled in their work, learning and development and made exceptional contributions to their workplaces.
Lucy’s work in the Microbiology Department at Oxford University Hospitals (OUH) NHS Foundation Trust, supported by her supervisor Reena Chohan, involves routine diagnostic microbiology, with her quality improvement and academic project specifically focusing on optimising blood culture volumes in patients with suspected sepsis. Through this project, she has investigated how adjusting sample volumes can improve diagnostic accuracy and ultimately patient outcomes. Her work has been recognised for demonstrating a strong understanding that behind every sample is a patient and she approaches the project with clinical insight, compassion and a level of professionalism beyond what is typical at this early stage of a career.
The winners will be announced on 21 May at an awards celebration evening in the Schwarzman Centre for the Humanities, the University of Oxford’s new world-class centre for the arts and humanities.
About the nomination, Lucy said: “I am delighted to be a finalist for the Higher/Degree Apprentice of the Year in Oxfordshire Apprenticeship Awards 2026. I am very proud of this achievement and it would not be possible without the support of everybody I work with at Oxford University Hospitals. I feel extremely privileged to have had the opportunity to complete this apprenticeship and to work/ study in such an incredible department.
“The University of Westminster has helped me with this achievement by not only supporting my education but also my professional development with well-designed assessments and work-based modules that encourage critical thinking, quality improvement and reflection.”
The nomination directly contributes to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (SDGs) 4: Quality Education. Since 2019, the University of Westminster has used the SDGs holistically to frame strategic decisions to help students and colleagues fulfil their potential and contribute to a more sustainable, equitable and healthier society.
Learn more about Higher and Degree Apprenticeships at the University of Westminster.
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