Oliver Bikar, a Learning Support Assistant / Job Coach Apprentice at Coventry City Council approached the Local Government Apprentice of the Year 2026 event with a clear sense of purpose - to challenge himself, connect with others, and bring his real-world experience of working with people into a new and dynamic setting.
Oliver Bikar, a Learning Support Assistant / Job Coach Apprentice at Coventry City Council approached the Local Government Apprentice of the Year 2026 event with a clear sense of purpose - to challenge himself, connect with others, and bring his real-world experience of working with people into a new and dynamic setting.
As someone whose role centres on supporting individuals, building relationships, and working across multiple services, the event provided the perfect opportunity to put these skills into practice on a national stage. From the outset, Oliver approached the event with excitement, pride, and determination. Representing Coventry City Council as its first apprentice to attend, he brought with him strong experience in working with a wide range of stakeholders, including young people with SEND, employers, education providers, and colleagues across services.
Throughout the event, Oliver consistently demonstrated the importance of collaboration. A defining moment for Oliver came during the stakeholder engagement activity as the task closely reflected the reality of his role, where success depends on understanding and balancing different perspectives. Drawing on his professional experience, he helped guide discussions around the importance of recognising stakeholder needs and ensuring that all voices are considered when developing new ideas.
The activity reinforced the importance of collaboration, communication, and engagement when creating meaningful and sustainable improvements, making it the most interesting and valuable activity for me.
Day two brought a sense of anticipation as Oliver and his team awaited the results. When they were announced as the winning team, it was a moment of genuine pride; not just for the outcome, but for the way the team had worked together to achieve it. For Oliver, the award reflected the team’s ability to listen, adapt, and bring together diverse perspectives
to create something impactful.
Looking back, Oliver identified teamwork and collaboration as the most rewarding aspects of the experience. Working alongside apprentices from different councils reinforced the importance of sharing knowledge, learning from others, and building strong working relationships.
Oliver encourages anyone considering applying to the event to make the most of the opportunity by being confident in themselves and the experiences they bring. He emphasises the importance of actively engaging with others, taking time to network, share ideas, and learn from different perspectives as some of the most valuable insights from those conversations. He also highlights the value of approaching every activity with an open mind and a positive attitude, recognising that stepping outside of your comfort zone is where the greatest development happens. Ultimately, his advice is simple: embrace the experience fully; by contributing, listening, and collaborating, apprentices will gain far more than they initially expect.