Bernadette Ryan, British Red Cross: Higher Apprentice of the Year 2026

When Bernadette Ryan began her Level 4 Associate Project Manager apprenticeship with the British Red Cross, she brought with her a strong desire to re-enter the workforce, rebuild her confidence and contribute to work that truly makes a difference. Her journey has been shaped by resilience, determination and commitment, and has led to her being named Intec Business Colleges’ Higher Apprentice of the Year 2026.

A return to work with purpose

After stepping away from employment for 20 years to care for her daughter following a life changing illness, Bernadette made the decision to return to work. She joined the British Red Cross Support Line team, ready to make a positive impact and open herself up to new opportunities. When the chance to complete a project management apprenticeship arose, she embraced it with enthusiasm.

Although she had been away from academic study for many years, Bernadette approached the programme with curiosity and a willingness to learn. She saw the apprenticeship as more than a qualification. For her, it was an opportunity to build a new career, develop fresh skills and support the growth of a service designed to help people across the UK in moments of crisis.

Persevering through adversity

Bernadette’s apprenticeship journey was not without challenges. During her time on programme, she faced difficult personal circumstances as her daughter experienced serious health complications. At the same time, the organisation went through a major restructure which meant moving teams and supporting the development of a new service.

Despite these pressures, Bernadette stayed committed to her learning. She worked closely with her assessor to gather evidence and keep her project work on track, even when setbacks made progress more difficult. There were moments when a break in learning was considered, but Bernadette was determined to continue.

Her resilience paid off. She completed the apprenticeship with a Distinction, and the feedback from her examiner was described as some of the most positive her assessor had ever received. The examiner praised her understanding of project management tools and techniques and the thoughtful way she applied them to workplace challenges to improve processes and support positive change.

Growing in confidence, leadership and capability

Throughout the programme, Bernadette gained confidence in her abilities and developed a growing passion for project delivery and communication. She made significant progress in key areas, including:

• Leadership and team coordination, particularly when working with multi-disciplinary teams and subject matter experts
• Change support, helping colleagues, volunteers and clients adapt to new ways of working
• Communication, ensuring projects were clear, engaging and easy to understand
• Technical and digital skills, including project frameworks, manual testing, product development and business analysis
• Adaptability and ownership, taking accountability for her work and approaching new opportunities with confidence

Her employer has seen a noticeable increase in her confidence, especially in planning and managing work, engaging stakeholders and supporting volunteer training and service development.

Making a meaningful contribution at a crucial time

Bernadette completed her apprenticeship during a period of significant change within the organisation. Even with these challenges, she consistently found ways to apply her learning to service development work. She supported new projects, pilots and improvement activities and played an important role in shaping processes during the transition.

Her organised and thoughtful approach, combined with the knowledge gained through her apprenticeship, has made her a valued and trusted colleague.

A remarkable achievement

Bernadette’s story is one of courage and personal growth. She returned to the workforce after two decades, navigated major personal challenges, adapted to organisational change and achieved academic success, all while contributing meaningfully to the British Red Cross.

Her achievement as Higher Apprentice of the Year 2026 is a testament to her dedication, determination and belief in the power of learning. It also reflects the impact apprenticeships can have in helping individuals rebuild confidence, discover new strengths and achieve goals they once thought impossible.

Bernadette represents everything Intec Business Colleges celebrates. We are incredibly proud to recognise her success.

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