A digital apprenticeship graduate from the University of Suffolk who plays a key role in managing BT’s undersea cable infrastructure has been awarded the Apprentice of the Year prize.
Xenia Zimmermann scooped the 2026 Apprenticeship Guide award at a glittering ceremony in Leeds last week, winning out of more than 100 entries.
The Ipswich-based graduate completed the Level 6 BSc (Hons) Digital and Technology Solutions (Software Engineering) degree apprenticeship last year, graduating with first class honours at the University’s October ceremonies on Ipswich Waterfront.
She was employed by BT throughout her studies and continues to work for the business as a Subsea Network Engineering Professional. Her role plays an important part in maintaining the underwater cable estate that connects the UK mainland with its smaller islands, as well as with Europe and beyond.
Xenia said: “I feel very happy and honoured to win the Apprentice of the Year award.
“Thank you to the University of Suffolk who have supported me academically throughout my apprenticeship, and to my colleagues at BT, especially in the Subsea team, who have believed in me from day one, and for giving me the opportunity to get involved in the coolest projects.
“I didn’t have a technical background before starting the apprenticeship and felt like I had a lot of catching-up when I first started.
“Now that I have completed my apprenticeship, it is rewarding to have my hard work recognised with this award.”
The award – which followed her winning the Professional Development Award at the IT and Digital Apprenticeships Awards in 2024 – came in recognition of her exceptional work throughout her apprenticeship, which included independently managing a full regression test project for a core network router upgrade – work typically undertaken by far more experienced colleagues.
She also contributed to team development through technical knowledge sharing sessions, leadership roles within project teams and taking on the task of an engagement representative to strengthen communication between staff and management.
She began the apprenticeship with no prior experience of coding, but quickly elevated her skills across her training. She achieved the highest score among her cohort for her dissertation, which focused on improving risk prediction for subsea telecommunications cables, using AI analysis of vessels to anticipate potentially-hazardous ship movements near critical infrastructure.
In addition, Xenia has been a staunch advocate for women in male-dominated STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths) roles, as well as helping co-ordinate careers fairs and carried out engagement activities through the European Subsea Cable Association’s Next Generation Working Group.
Award judges were impressed with her focus on sustainability and cost-saving initiatives, as well as delivering impact beyond expectations in her role.
Yvonne Malpass, Director of Apprenticeships at the University of Suffolk, said: “Winning Apprentice of the Year is a tremendous achievement for Xenia, and we are thrilled her hard work and dedication has been rewarded with this award.
“Throughout her time on the apprenticeship, Xenia has demonstrated exceptional standards of work, and it has been wonderful to see her continue to thrive with BT beyond her studies.”
Xenia had originally been eyeing a career in the humanities, after initially pursuing a Comparative Literature and English course when she moved to Scotland from Germany.
But her career ambitions pivoted after realising her creativity could also be applied in the technology sector, to “find new solutions to difficult problems”.
She added: “I wanted to learn the skills to fix problems with technology. Luckily, I found my niche in a really interesting team along the way, and I’m now applying my knowledge to protecting critical national infrastructure in the form of subsea telecommunications cables.”
Jane Atkinson, Senior Manager of BT’s Subsea Team, said: “Xenia’s recognition as Apprentice of the Year is richly deserved. It reflects the mindset she brings every day: a willingness to learn, to challenge, and to go beyond expectations.
“Xenia is a brilliant example of what can be achieved through apprenticeships, demonstrating that they are a high‑performance pathway to shaping the future.
“BT would also like to thank the University of Suffolk for their continued support and for nominating Xenia. Their partnership has been instrumental in her success, and this recognition is a testament to the strength of that collaboration.”
