OLS is proud to announce that both the business and Shelley Law have been named finalists at the South Yorkshire Apprenticeship Awards, recognising outstanding achievement in apprenticeship development and individual excellence within the region.
Shelley Law has been shortlisted for Degree Apprentice of the Year, celebrating her technical, academic and professional development since joining OLS in 2021. Initially starting in an admin role, Shelley quickly discovered a passion for technology and progressed into the technical team, where she has gone on to make an outstanding impact.
Now promoted to Senior Technical Support Engineer, Shelley provides advanced technical support across multiple access control platforms and supports engineers with large‑scale, multi-site deployments involving hundreds of doors and tens of thousands of users. Working closely with software architects and global technology partners, Shelley plays a key role in testing, configuring and optimising integrated cloud-based security solutions.
Alongside her technical responsibilities, Shelley is completing a Level 6 Degree Apprenticeship in Software Development at Nottingham Trent University, where she has achieved a 2:1 in her first year, followed by first-class marks in subsequent assignments, placing her at the top of her cohort. As a Course Representative, Shelley also demonstrates leadership beyond the workplace, supporting fellow apprentices and working closely with university staff.
OLS has also been named a finalist for SME Employer of the Year, recognising our long-standing commitment to apprenticeships as a core part of its business strategy. Since 2019, we have supported 12 apprenticeships from Level 3 to Level 6, spanning engineering, technical support, software development, marketing and business administration. Over 50% of our current workforce began their careers as apprentices, with a 100% retention rate following programme completion.
Apprentices at OLS are embedded into operational teams from an early stage, contributing directly to customer projects, international deployments and the development of OLS Connect, our proprietary integration platform supporting more than 25 security, HR and operational system integrations. This approach has supported OLS’s rapid growth, including exceeding our 2025 turnover target and securing its largest contract to date.
Jason Sharpe, Operations Director at OLS, commented:
“Shelley’s journey perfectly demonstrates what apprenticeships can achieve. Her technical ability, leadership and ambition are exceptional, and we are incredibly proud to see her recognised. Being named a finalist as a business alongside Shelley reinforces our belief that investing in people is fundamental to long-term success.”
Beyond the business, Shelley is also a visible role model within the wider technology and security sector, representing OLS at industry events, working directly with international suppliers, and engaging in discussions with senior leaders on the future of cloud-based security. Her progress highlights the impact apprenticeships can have in opening routes into highly skilled, traditionally underrepresented technical roles.
The South Yorkshire Apprenticeship Awards celebrate individuals and organisations that demonstrate excellence, innovation and commitment to developing future talent. Winners will be announced later at Sheffield’s Bramall Lane on Thursday 21st May 2026.
