AWE’s apprenticeship scheme was recognised as amongst the best in the country at the National Apprenticeship Awards in London on 20 January.
The prestigious Centrica Top 100 Apprenticeship Employer list, compiled annually by the National Apprenticeship Service, recognises excellence in businesses that employ apprentices.
At the end of 2016, AWE won the south-east Large Employer category in the National Apprenticeship Awards. The most exceptional apprenticeship employers from the National Apprenticeship Awards were then selected for the Top 100, which showcases the wide range of employers now offering apprenticeships.
Welcoming AWE’s inclusion as a top apprenticeship employer, Kathryn Marshall, AWE’s Director of HR, said:
“AWE has been nurturing and developing young people for nearly 65 years, since our Skills Academy opened its doors. More than 4000 men and women have completed their apprenticeships with us and many have worked their way up through the company into senior leadership roles. “Apprenticeships are crucial for AWE, not only in supporting our workforce and our business but because they offer people of all ages and backgrounds an opportunity to learn and develop a skill that provides them with real career options. Developing the nation’s future talent is a high priority and AWE has never been more committed to providing opportunities for young people and supporting them to achieve their potential.
“In 2017, we are almost tripling the number of apprenticeship places available here and we are also introducing a range of completely new modules, such as Finance and Project Controls, Supply Chain Management, Laboratory Technician, and Human Resources, to our successful electrical, engineering and manufacturing programmes.
“We are incredibly proud of our Skills Academy and the achievements of our apprentices, and we are delighted to be recognised in the Centrica Top 100 Apprenticeship Employer list.”
Sue Husband, Director of the National Apprenticeship Scheme, explained:
“Apprentice employers are creating opportunities for individuals to gain the skills and knowledge needed to succeed, up to degree level, while working and earning. “These Top 100 Apprenticeship Employers are making a difference to the lives of their apprentices by investing in their future. In return, apprentices are helping employers to develop a skilled, qualified workforce to build a stronger economy”. Skills and Apprenticeships Minister Robert Halfon, said: “Apprenticeships work. They give people of all ages and all backgrounds the ladder of opportunity to get paid experience in work and a top class qualification at the same time.
“The National Apprenticeship Awards ensure apprenticeships get the prestige they deserve, while shining a light on the fantastic work that both apprentices and their employers do”
View the full Centrica Top 100 Apprenticeship Employer list
To find out more about AWE’s apprenticeship scheme and the new programmes that are on offer, visit our careers page.