The Community Housing Group, winners of the Worcestershire Apprenticeship Awards Employer of the Year 2015, is encouraging local people, schools, businesses and training providers to place nominations for this year’s awards.
Nominations for the Worcestershire Apprenticeship Awards 2016 are open until 30 June 2016 and the Kidderminster-based business, who won the overall employer award last year, is encouraging others to have the chance to follow in their success.
In the last year The Community Housing Group has seen huge success with apprenticeships. In addition to The Worcestershire Apprenticeship Employer of the Year 2015 Award, Vestia Community Trust which is part of the Community Housing Group, saw one of their apprentices, Kath Sandford, achieve the Intermediate Apprentice of the Year at the National Apprenticeship Awards in January 2016.
Tables are now also on sale as well as sponsorship opportunities for the awards which will take place on 17 November 2016 at West Midland Safari Park.
The Awards, now in their third year, have been previously hosted by The BBC Apprentice’s, Nick Hewer, and Broadcaster, Steph McGovern, and consistently attract an audience of over 300 people.
This year Tim Campbell MBE, business owner and winner of the first series of BBC’s The Apprentice, will host and present the 12 awards to celebrate some of the County’s most successful apprentices, schools, training providers and apprentice employers. Since winning The Apprentice, Tim went on to work for Alan Sugar for three years, leading Amstrad’s foray into the health and beauty market, before founding the Bright Ideas Trust, an organisation that supports young aspiring entrepreneurs with advice, encouragement and investment.
The 2016 Worcestershire Apprenticeship Awards will recognise excellence in 12 categories:
Apprentice Awards
- School of the year
- Intermediate Level Apprentice of the year – sponsored by E-Response
- Advanced Level Apprentice of the year – sponsored by Ormerod Rutter
- Higher Level Apprentice of the year – sponsored by Morgan Motor Company
- Worcestershire Apprentice of the year – sponsored by Worcester Bosch Group.
Employer Awards
- Newcomer Apprenticeship Employer
- Small Apprenticeship Employer of the year (< 50 employees)
- Medium Apprenticeship Employer of the year (> 50 employees) – sponsored by Herefordshire & Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce
- Large Apprenticeship Employer of the year (> 250 employees) – sponsored by Sanctuary Group
- Apprentice Ambassador of the Year – sponsored by the Training Academy
- Training Provider of the Year – sponsored by Worcestershire Training Providers Association
- Worcestershire Apprenticeship Employer of the Year – sponsored by Yamazaki Mazak UK Ltd.
Confirmed sponsors for this year’s awards include: E-Response, Herefordshire and Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce, Morgan Motor Company, Ormerod Rutter, The Training Academy, Sanctuary Group and Worcestershire Training Providers Association. Once again, the two main awards are being sponsored by: Yamazaki Mazak Ltd for Worcestershire Apprenticeship Employer of the Year and Worcester Bosch Group for Worcestershire Apprentice of the Year with a limited number of sponsorship opportunities remaining.
Vikki Greenfield, Head of Learning & Development at Vestia Community Trust, said: “The Community Housing Group invests in apprenticeships as we believe that apprentices are key to achieving the vision of the company as well beneficial to the individuals. It was fantastic to be recognised as the Worcestershire Apprenticeship Employer of the Year 2015 and receive such recognition through the awards. I would encourage everyone to ensure they place their nominations by the deadline.”
Gary Woodman, Chief Executive of the Worcestershire Local Enterprise Partnership, said: “The Worcestershire Apprenticeship Awards is a fantastic event and a great way to celebrate the successes of our local apprentices, apprentice employers, schools and training providers and so please do place your nominations.
“Apprenticeships play a vitally important role for our local workforce, helping businesses to meet their future workforce requirements and increase productivity. A wealth of support and advice is available on the Worcestershire Apprenticeships website for anyone considering employing an apprentice at www.worcsapprenticeships.org.uk.”
Cllr Dr Ken Pollock, Cabinet Member with Responsibility for Economy, Skills and Infrastructure at Worcestershire County Council, added: “I would encourage employers to make their nominations for the Worcestershire Apprenticeship Awards and help celebrate and further improve the already fantastic apprenticeship opportunities that we enjoy here in Worcestershire.
“I look forward to being able to recognise and celebrate the achievements of the County’s apprentices at the awards ceremony on 17 November.”
For more information about apprenticeships locally and to nominate for this year’s Worcestershire Apprenticeship Awards before the 30 June 2016 deadline, visit the Worcestershire Apprenticeships website at www.worcsapprenticeships.org.uk.
Completed nominations, and enquiries for sponsorship opportunities and table bookings for the awards should be sent to awardsnominations@worcestershire.gov.uk. Join the conversation on Twitter using #WorcsApprentice.
Photo attached (left to right): Ian Black – HR Manager at Yamazaki Mazak UK Ltd. who sponsored the Worcestershire Apprenticeship Employer 2015 Award, Marina Banner – Executive Director of Vestia Community Trust, David Chantler OBE – Vestia Community Trust Chairman with Steph McGovern broadcaster and host of the 2015 Worcestershire Apprenticeship Awards.