Devon award winners celebrate decade of success
With just a month to go until nominations for this year’s National Apprenticeship Awards competitions close (on 26 April 2013), current apprentices and employers across Devon are being encouraged to enter as the awards celebrate their 10th year.
The 2012 competition saw Devon employers David Youll and JTP Joinery of Paignton and Puffins of Exeter recognised in the awards.
On a national level the 2012 winners have seen significant benefits from taking part.
City & Guilds Apprenticeship Champion of the Year, Jenny Westworth, from BAE Systems won following a public vote and has gone on to share a speaking platform with the Deputy Prime Minister and taken part in a job swap with Skills Minister, Matthew Hancock.
Another winner, Bethan Sherbourne from MBDA Missile Systems, who won the Virgin Media-sponsored Higher Apprentice of the Year Award, said: "It’s been overwhelming to have my efforts commended at national level. Since my success in the Awards, I’ve been able to conduct a speech at the House of Lords, appear live on ITV’s Daybreak and on BBC radio."
On the employers’ side, J A Cliff Building Services, won the Rentokil Initial Small Apprenticeship Employer of the Year and has starred in radio adverts for the National Apprenticeship Service. Meanwhile, Berthon Boat Company, who won the Nuclear Decommissioning SLC Award for Medium Employer of the Year, has featured in the Prime Minister’s “made by apprentices” campaign.
Managing Director of Berthon, Brian May, said: “These awards recognise and reinforce your company's role and respect in the community, thereby boosting customer appreciation of your company."
This year will see an additional award category for the best Apprenticeship Employer Newcomer. This award will celebrate employers that have recently begun employing apprentices, within the last two years and can show the immediate benefits this has brought to them.
The Awards ceremony will take place at The Skills Show in November, the UK’s biggest careers event sponsored by the Edge Foundation and City & Guilds, and for the third year running, the very best employer entries will also feature in the annual Top 100 Apprenticeship Employers list, published in partnership with City & Guilds.
Skills Minister Matthew Hancock said: “Apprentices deliver because they support economic growth, ensuring that both employers and employees have the skills they need for their companies to succeed.
“These awards offer a great platform for everyone involved to gain recognition not just for excelling in their chosen field, but for playing a leading part in that vital process."
David Way, Chief Executive of Award organisers, the National Apprenticeship Service, said: “The National Apprenticeship Awards recognise the success of employers in growing their own talent and developing a motivated, skilled and qualified workforce. They also recognise the crucial role skills play in helping individuals develop fulfilling careers.
“Entering is a real opportunity for employers and individuals to gain the recognition they richly deserve for building the national skills base.”
To find out more about how to enter both the National Apprenticeship Awards visit www.apprenticeships.org.uk
Entries close on Friday 26 April 2013.
