WAES apprentices and partners shortlisted for ARA Excellence Awards 2026
Two WAES apprentices have been shortlisted for New Professional of the Year, while apprenticeship partner Edge Hill University Archive and Special Collections has been shortlisted for Recordkeeping Service of the Year in the Archives & Records Association (UK & Ireland) Excellence Awards 2026.
Westminster Adult Education Service (WAES) is delighted to celebrate the success of its apprentices and employer partners in the Archives & Records Association (UK & Ireland) Excellence Awards 2026.
The awards recognise excellence across the archives, records management and information professions. Public voting is open until Wednesday 16 July, with winners due to be announced at the ARA Conference in August.
This year’s shortlist includes two WAES apprentices in the New Professional of the Year category, alongside WAES apprenticeship partner Edge Hill University Archive and Special Collections, which has been shortlisted for Recordkeeping Service of the Year.
New Professional of the Year nominees
Aimy Stevens, a Level 7 Archivist and Records Manager apprentice at Edge Hill University, has been recognised for her contribution to a wide range of archive projects, including collections relating to the Hillsborough disaster and the archive of acclaimed filmmaker Terence Davies. Her nomination highlights achievements in cataloguing, digital preservation, public engagement and professional leadership, as well as her involvement with sector initiatives and conferences.
Charlie Lough, an apprentice archivist at Durham University, has been shortlisted in recognition of her leadership in redeveloping the Palace Green Library exhibition space. Alongside her apprenticeship and day-to-day responsibilities, Charlie led a major project to transform the gallery into a permanent public exhibition venue, including audience research, exhibition planning, stakeholder engagement and accessibility improvements.
Recordkeeping Service of the Year nominee
WAES is also pleased to see Edge Hill University Archive and Special Collections shortlisted for Recordkeeping Service of the Year. Despite being a relatively young service, the archive has developed a strong reputation through its work with significant collections, public engagement activities and partnerships across the archives, higher education and cultural sectors.
The nomination highlights projects including the promotion of the Terence Davies Archive through collaborations with organisations such as the British Film Institute, Toronto International Film Festival and HOME Manchester, as well as research initiatives exploring the history of women’s teacher training colleges.
Developing the next generation of archive professionals
The shortlist demonstrates the impact that apprenticeships can have in supporting both individual career development and organisational success. Through apprenticeships, archives services can develop specialist skills while creating new routes into the profession for people from a wide range of backgrounds.
Jenny Pistella, Apprenticeship Manager at WAES, said:
“Congratulations to all those shortlisted in the ARA Excellence Awards 2026. We’re particularly pleased to see both our apprentices and apprenticeship partners recognised for their achievements, and wish everyone the very best of luck.”
