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Sellafield Ltd Apprenticeship scheme wins top national award
Sellafield Ltd has received a top national award for the quality of its growing apprenticeship scheme.
The company took the accolade for Macro Employer of the Year at the National Apprenticeship Awards organised by the National Apprenticeship Service (NAS).
The award recognises the firm’s success in using apprentices to meet the needs of its business and the community in which it operates.
Sellafield Ltd has recruited apprentices for over 50 years, currently employing 320 with a view to increasing this number in the future.
As the most complex nuclear site in the country, apprenticeship programmes deliver staff with the skills it requires to remain at the forefront of engineering and manufacturing technologies.
Sellafield Ltd was amongst eight winners at the awards ceremony, which took place in Westminster.
David McNerney, Sellafield Ltd’s HR Director, said: “We are delighted to be recognised as the country’s top apprentice employer in the macro business category, and are very proud to have supported apprenticeships for more than 50 years.
“I can testify to the benefits apprenticeships bring to the workplace and would recommend them to any business as a practical and cost effective solution for developing employees with exactly the right skills, knowledge and attitude.
“We already celebrate the success of our Apprenticeship programme and are very proud of all our apprentices, but it has been great to be able celebrate our successes on this special evening.”
Lesley Bowen, Head of HR at Sellafield Ltd, added: “It’s amazing to be selected from all the apprentice employers nationwide to be a winner at the National Apprenticeship Awards. The awards reward and recognise apprentices and the businesses that employ them.
“I’m delighted to be representing all of the amazing apprentices across the country that help make employers more productive and efficient.”
John Hayes, Minister for Further Education, Skills and Lifelong Learning, said: “Apprenticeships play a huge role in providing the skills we need to build an advanced economy. They help get young people into work and boost productivity and improve competitiveness.
“The Apprenticeship Awards recognise and celebrate these benefits as well as the hard work of individuals and the commitment of employers to invest in their workforce.
“For this Government, skills are a priority and apprenticeships are at the heart of our determination to produce a new generation of craftsmen capable of building a highly skilled, competitive economy.”
Simon Waugh, Chief Executive of NAS, said: “Apprenticeships make a positive contribution to businesses of all sizes and from all sectors and it’s been great to celebrate this through the awards.
“I hope the success stories highlighted by the awards encourage many more organisations and individuals to find out more about Apprenticeships.”
The award winners enjoyed a reception and ceremony at the Park Plaza Hotel, Westminster.
Sellafield Ltd., like all the other winners, had previously triumphed in regional heats.
The company, in partnership with the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority, also sponsored one of the other categories at the awards, the Medium Employer of the Year.
The Apprenticeship Awards 2010 celebrate the achievements of apprentices and employers from all over England. The national final was held in London on 15 July 15, 2010.
Apprenticeship Awards sponsors are:
- Presenting sponsor City & Guilds
- Unilever sponsor of Young Apprentice of the Year
- EDI sponsor of Apprentice of the Year
- EAL sponsor of Advanced Apprentice of the Year
- Skills for Care sponsor of Micro Employer of the Year
- BT sponsor of Small Employer of the Year
- NDA/Sellafield sponsor of Medium Employer of the Year
- BAE Systems sponsor of Large Employer of the Year
- Cable & Wireless sponsor of Macro Employer of the Year
- Southampton Solent University sponsor of VIP reception
- BPP sponsor of the Finalist Awards films
More details on the sponsors support can be found by visiting apprenticeships.org.uk
