Aptus up for National Apprenticeship award

Aptus Utilities has been announced as a regional finalist in the National Apprenticeship Awards.

The company has been shortlisted in the SME Employer of the Year category for commitment to our apprenticeship programme and the significant benefits apprentices are bringing to our business.

The National Apprenticeship Awards are now in their 15th year and are the most prestigious celebration of apprentices and apprentice employers across the country.

The North West winners will be announced at a ceremony in Manchester, this September, with the winners going forward to the national finals in November.

From the beginning, Aptus has committed to growing a highly skilled team that will safeguard our long-term future in an industry that faces critical skills shortages and an aging workforce.

Our first business apprentice joined a team of just nine people in 2012. Since then, by proactively collaborating with learning providers and colleges, the company has become exemplary in our sector, helping to deliver vital skills and career opportunities, and inspiring a new generation to join the industry.

We have built successful relationships with training providers and colleges including Horwich based Alliance Learning and Utility & Construction Training (UCT) at Trafford, as well as Bolton College and Bury College, working with them to plug skills gaps and deliver apprenticeships.

We currently have 27 business and specialist craft apprentices progressing to fill key roles within the organisation. Apprentices are making a direct contribution to our commercial success and are at the heart of our North East and Midlands growth ambitions.

A number of apprentices and representatives from Aptus Utilities will be attending the regional awards at Manchester Marriott Victoria & Albert Hotel on 19 September to find out who will be crowned SME Employer of the Year!

Aptus Utilities Managing Director Lisa Kerford commented: “We are hugely honoured to have been shortlisted in the National Apprenticeship Awards, and to have been recognised at this level among the top apprenticeship employers in the country.

“Successful apprentice recruitment and training demands a company-wide effort and strong collaboration with our training and education partners, with whom we are delighted to share this recognition.

“Following on from the award we received for our investment in apprentices, skills and staff development at the GM Chamber Skills for Business Awards last November, this is further indication that we are meeting the wider national demand for apprenticeships and at the required standards.

“These Awards present a fantastic platform for promoting careers in our sector, which will not only support our ambitions for growth but assist in creating more resilience within the construction industry.”

Published on 15th August 2018