Member Article

Scarborough based Dale Power Solutions wins National Apprenticeship Award

Dale Power Solutions was last night revealed as The British Army sponsored Large Employer of the Year at the National Apprenticeship Awards at an exclusive ceremo-ny at London’s Grosvenor House.

The Awards, now in their fourteenth year, are run by the National Apprenticeship Ser-vice and recognise excellence in two areas: businesses that grow their own talent with apprentices and apprentices who have made a significant contribution to their work-places.

Dale Power Solutions has been recruiting apprentices since the 1940s, but re-launched its apprenticeship programme in 2007. It made the decision to relaunch its apprenticeship recruitment as a way to combat an ageing workforce. Apprenticeships are now central to its business plan.

Selected from many entrants from across the country, Dale Power Solutions delivers five different apprenticeships from Business and Administration to Engineering Tech-nology, they also provide Advanced and Higher Apprenticeships.

On accepting the award, Tim Wilkins, CEO at Dale Power Solutions said:

“Being a company with under 300 employees makes us relatively small for the Large Employer category so we were thrilled to win this award for the Yorkshire and Hum-ber region. One third of our apprentices are female and having two of our apprentic-es, Mickyle Clark and Hannah Magowan awarded with Higher/Degree Apprentice and Advanced Apprentice in the regional finals is the icing on the cake.

Mark Carter, Business Support Manager at Dale Power Solutions added:

“As a recognised Cornerstone employer our grass-roots strategy to solve a skills shortage in the industry is in its tenth year and we are proud to have apprentices at all levels working within the business. Our Ambassador programme is thriving and our apprentices will continue to work with schools and colleges to combat the wider issue of social mobility in our area.”

The ceremony also saw Dale Power Solutions named in the prestigious Top 100 Ap-prenticeship Employer list. The list, which is compiled annually by the National Ap-prenticeship Service, sponsored by Centrica, recognises excellence in businesses that employ apprentices.

Skills and Apprenticeships Minister Anne Milton said:

“The National Apprenticeship Awards ceremony is a great opportunity to celebrate the work so many individuals and employers have done to champion apprenticeships.

“I want to congratulate everyone that was a part of these awards for their contribution to apprenticeships in England. They are all fantastic advocates of hard work and am-bition, and they highlight how apprenticeships are a great route into skilled employ-ment for people of all ages and backgrounds.”

Lieutenant General James Bashall, Commander Home Command at The British Army, said:

“The Army has the largest employer Apprenticeship programme in the country with over 8,000 soldiers completing one of over 40 programmes on offer. We are uncondi-tionally committed to equipping all our people with the skills for life the programme delivers, so they can fulfil their potential within the Army as well as when they transi-tion to second careers.

“I absolutely welcome the opportunity to celebrate great apprenticeships with other Employers. The National Apprenticeship Awards provides an excellent platform to showcase talent across all sectors of employment in England and celebrate the sup-port and training provided by excellent employers. All three nominees in this category, from very diverse sectors, should be congratulated on reaching the finals. All three employers run excellent Apprentice programmes and I was delighted to present the Award to Dale Power Solutions.”

Sue Husband, Director of the National Apprenticeship Service added:

“The National Apprenticeship Awards showcase the breadth of apprenticeships on offer in a range of dynamic industries across the country. Apprenticeships are for everyone and I thank every employer and apprentice celebrated for their passion for, and commitment to, apprenticeships.

“This year’s winners are all shining examples of how apprenticeships develop out-standing talent whilst enhancing the incredible work of employers. I am certain all of our winners have a bright future thanks to the enriching benefits that apprenticeships bring.”

Exciting changes to the future format of the National Apprenticeship Awards was also announced. More information about these will be released in March.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Sareen Gosal .