A young local talent has been recognised with one of the region’s top apprenticeship honours: Kieran Davis, 1st Line IT Technician at Meridian Trust, has been named ‘IT & Computing Apprentice of the Year 2026’ by Cambridge Regional College (CRC).
Kieran joined Meridian Trust straight after his GCSEs through an IT apprenticeship, completing the programme with a Distinction. Now he supports 35 schools across the Trust in his technician role. Kieran was “incredibly pleased” and “shocked” to learn he’d won the award and credits his success to hard work and applying the skills developed during his time at Meridian Trust.
“I feel like I worked really hard and showed my skills, which I had learned throughout my apprenticeship at Meridian Trust,” Kieran said.
The Cambridge Regional College award recognises Kieran’s technical ability and hard work. Unlike traditional academic routes, Kieran found that apprenticeships better suited his strengths. “I decided to do an apprenticeship straight after GCSEs because I found that learning in a traditional sense was not what I was good at,” he explained. “I found that I had skills already, which helped me to progress further.”
In his daily role, Kieran provides hands-on IT support across the Trust, communicating with colleagues in all roles. His work ranges from resolving simple issues to carrying out complex troubleshooting.
Kieran describes receiving his Distinction as the most rewarding moment of his apprenticeship, made possible through the support of Meridian Trust, which provided valuable resources, development opportunities, and protected time to meet coursework deadlines. He says the experience helped him grow “a massive amount professionally and personally” and credits ongoing guidance and mentoring as key to his success: “I feel that support and mentoring are vital to completing the apprenticeship effectively, as they open up opportunities to progress.”
Mark Woods, CEO of Meridian Trust, congratulated Kieran and shared his passion for apprenticeships: “Kieran’s award is a tremendous reflection of his talent and the practical skills he’s developed with us. We’re immensely proud of what he’s achieved and look forward to watching him continue to grow and flourish in his career with us.”
Mark, who strongly advocates apprenticeships to develop and support learners’ skills and knowledge, added: “The apprenticeship approach lets people put what they’re learning into practice straight away, getting feedback from tutors and other apprentices on the spot. These programmes deliver real-world experience, recognised qualifications, and clear career pathways.”
“We prioritise apprenticeships across technical, teaching, and support staff roles because they create clear career pathways and development opportunities for talented people at every stage, from school leavers like Kieran, to experienced staff developing their skills in areas such as facilities management and leadership.”
Kieran aims to keep progressing his career while continually expanding his knowledge and skills. His advice to others is: “Learn everything you can, never decline an opportunity to expand your knowledge.” During National Apprenticeship Week (9th – 15th February 2026), he encourages young people considering this route: “I feel like it is one of the best ways to start your career.”
Meridian Trust is a nationally respected and growing multi-academy trust overseeing 35 primary, secondary, and special schools across Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Peterborough, Lincolnshire, and Northamptonshire.
Kieran’s success highlights how apprenticeship programmes, supported by forward-thinking employers like Meridian Trust, are helping to develop the next generation of skilled professionals in our communities.