Catering sector urged to enter Apprenticeship Awards

Employers of all sizes and from all sectors of industry are encouraged to get involved. Candidates can enter the awards by logging onto http://www.apprenticeships.org.uk/Awards.aspx or by calling 0800 954 8896. Deadline for entries is 27th February 2009. Now in their sixth year, the LSC Apprenticeship Awards are designed to recognise employers who are successfully using Apprenticeships to improve business performance and the key role apprentices play in today's world. The catering and hotel keeping sector had a highly successful 2008 awards with the Birmingham based Arden Hotel and Leisure Club being awarded Highly Commended status in the Medium Employer of the Year category and Gemma Barrett winning the Highly Commended award in her Advanced Apprentice category. Talking about their Apprenticeship programme Jenny Mead, hotel manager at The Arden Hotel and Leisure Club said: "There is a company culture of learning at the Arden Hotel and we encourage training at all levels. This helps staff to learn and interact with each other. In particular it motivates and encourages the apprentices who can learn from more senior staff and envisage their own career progression." A new employer category is also being added to the awards that will cover macro sized businesses (5000+), levelling the playing field for businesses of all sizes. Employers are eligible to enter for one of five categories depending on their company size; micro (1-9 employees), small (10-49 employees), medium (50-249 employees), large (250-4,999 employees) and the new Macro size category that will cover businesses with over 5,000 employees. They are assessed on a number of criteria including implementation of the Apprenticeship programme, clear demonstration of the way Apprenticeships have benefited their business and the level of support provided to their apprentices. Launching the 2009 awards, secretary of state for innovation, universities and skills, John Denham urged the nation to get behind Apprenticeships. He explained: "This government has rescued and expanded Apprenticeships. Ten years ago only 65,000 people started an Apprenticeship by 2007/08 this number had increased almost three and a half times to 225,000. "And we are determined to do more. In the Queen's speech we announced that we are going to legislate so that every suitably qualified young person has an entitlement to an Apprenticeship. Apprenticeships are becoming a mainstream option for young people and adults who want to get on. And we hope that by the end of the next decade one in five young people will start an Apprenticeship. Chris Banks, chair of the learning and skills council added: "In the current economic climate, it is crucial to recognise the importance of training programmes such as Apprenticeships." In addition to the employer awards, companies can encourage their apprentices to enter the awards too. There are three categories open to apprentices - Apprentice of the Year, Advanced Apprentice of the Year and Young Apprentice of the Year. The winners' event will be held on 16th July 2009 at Old Billingsgate Market, Central London.