Over 130 employers, apprentices, stakeholders and sponsors joined LSC Chair, Chris Banks CBE and Skills Minister, David Lammy MP, to launch the Apprenticeship Awards 2008 at the Imagination Gallery in London last night.
The Awards, now in their fifth year, are one of the most prestigious events in the education and skills calendar. They are held to recognise and reward individual apprentices who have exceeded their employers’ expectations or who have overcome difficulties to succeed their Apprenticeship; they also recognise employers who are successfully using Apprenticeships to improve their business performance and tackle skills shortages.
Speaking at the event LSC Chair, Chris Banks CBE, said: “Apprenticeships are a more attractive option than ever before for those employers wanting to take control of the future of their business by investing in skills. Today, more than 130,000 employers across the country are using Apprenticeships to improve their business performance, whilst giving talented individuals the opportunity to achieve their goals.
Entries to the Awards have increased year on year and we have received around 4,000 entries since the first Apprenticeship Awards in 2004. We are now calling on all apprentice employers across the country to enter our fifth national Awards.”
Guests also heard from one Awards success story, Hannah Worsley, an Advanced Apprentice of the Year finalist at the first Apprenticeship Awards in 2004. Hannah is now the Learning and Development Manager for KidsUnlimited and is responsible for their Apprenticeship programme and is not only an inspiration for future apprentices but has now become an employer ambassador.
Pictures from the Awards launch event will be published here shortly.
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