BT scoops National Apprenticeship Award

Issued by The National Apprenticeship Awards 15th November 2013

BT scoops National Apprenticeship Award

BT last night won the Livity Macro Employer of the Year 2013 in the National Apprenticeship Awards at a ceremony at Birmingham's NEC.

The Awards, now in their tenth year, are run by the National Apprenticeship Service and recognise excellence in two areas: businesses that grow their own talent with apprentices and apprentices who have made a significant contribution to their workplaces.

The company was chosen as the winner in recognition of its commitment to developing young people through Apprenticeships. As part of the roll-out of fibre-optic broadband across the UK, BT has recently recruited an additional 400 apprentice engineers plus 126 new apprentices into other areas of the business. A new Management Accountancy Apprenticeship is providing young people with a pathway to a Level 7 (equivalent to Master's Degree) finance qualification whilst gaining Chartered Accountancy Status, while former apprentices continue to progress to director level at the company.

On accepting the award, Damian Brown, Head of Accredited Learning at BT, said: Apprenticeships are the lifeblood of BT as they bring in new skills, new talent and new ideas. Our business strategy relies on having the right skills and experience in the right place at the right time. Apprenticeships help us capture the best talent and leadership for the future, and give our customers confidence that we'll continue to deliver excellent service to them.

Our apprentices regularly challenge our thinking, and are encouraged to do so: we can't grow and change as a business without this.

Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg was guest of honour at the Awards and said: To lock in our economic recovery we need a new generation of talent entering the world of work and I am committed to making sure young people today get the opportunities they need to realise their full potential.

Since 2010, we have created a million and a half new apprenticeships but none of that would have been possible without events like this and the support of businesses who go that extra mile to help our apprentices progress.

I was delighted to be able to meet so many of our young apprentices and businesses from across England at the Apprenticeship Awards tonight - it is the drive and ambition that we celebrated here that will, in the years ahead, help our country and its people thrive.

Skills and Enterprise Minister, Matthew Hancock said: Apprenticeships deliver for employers, young people, adults and the economy. I congratulate the winners and finalists at the National Apprenticeship Awards.

They represent the very best of employers and apprentices in this country and set a hugely positive example for other individuals and organisations to follow.

I want a system that works for businesses as well as learners. These awards demonstrate this and I am pleased to see so many learners, businesses and partners showing their commitment to Apprenticeships.

Erica Neve, Head of Learning, Livity added: At Livity, we are proud to present BT with the Macro Apprenticeship Award and congratulate BT on their success in a highly competitive category.

By celebrating the tenth year of National Apprenticeships awards, seeing entrants going from strength to strength, and through working everyday with large brands and sectors, it is great to see how the doors are being opened for young people through Apprenticeship routes into great careers and futures.

To view the full list of award winners and finalists or for more information about Apprenticeships, please visit www.apprenticeships.org.uk.

ENDS

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