Two graduate apprentices at Nexus have sharpened their teamwork and time management skills after scooping first place in a national baking contest inspired by The Great British Bake Off.

Sophie Gravill and Alex Robson were crowned winners of this year’s Great Apprentice Bake Off, seeing off competition from entrants across the UK. The event followed the familiar format of the hit TV programme, with contestants tackling both a technical challenge and a showstopper.

Judges praised the pair’s perfectly crafted macarons and their eye-catching Tyne and Wear Metro-inspired sponge cake. Designed to resemble a Metro train, the cake was decorated in fondant icing, representing the network’s original yellow and white livery.

With just two and a half hours on the clock, the duo produced seven raspberry macarons filled with vanilla fondant and completed their detailed showstopper cake. Held in Grantham, Lincolnshire, this year’s event was the biggest apprentice bake-off so far.

Now in its sixth year, the competition took place during National Apprenticeship Week. Sophie, 21, from York, works as a marketing apprentice, while Alex, 21, from Gateshead, is an apprentice within Nexus’s transport planning team.

Organised by the Apprenticeship Ambassador Network in partnership with the British Army, the competition brought together employers from across the UK. It formed part of a week-long celebration showcasing the positive impact apprenticeships have on individuals and organisations alike.

Sophie said: “It’s amazing that we won the competition. I’m so pleased. We were up against teams of apprentices from across Britian. It was super competitive but also lots of fun. It was a great experience to be able to take part in the event.

“We’re even more relieved to have won after a few things went wrong with our bakes under the time pressure and we had to rescue them.”

Sophie

“The event was fun and a great way to promote apprenticeships through baking. 

“We found the showstopper to be easier than the technical bake which took us a few attempts, but we were happy with the results of both bakes. 

“I’m proud of our win and trophy as well after the effort we put into the event.”

Alex