Member Article

Yorkshire based YBS Group wins National Apprenticeship Award

Yorkshire Building Society (YBS Group) was revealed as The Rolls Royce sponsored Newcomer Large Employer of the Year at the National Apprenticeship Awards at an exclusive ceremony at London’s Grosvenor House.

The Awards, now in their fourteenth 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 YBS Group is the UK’s second largest Building Society - with offices, branches and agencies throughout the country. It has over three million customers and four thousand employees.

The YBS Group’s apprenticeship programme supports the Group in achieving a workforce that is representative of the community it serves, as well as a clear entry point to support transitions from school and college to the YBS Group.

On accepting the award, Andy Tupman, Emerging Talent Manager at Yorkshire Building Society, said:

“I’m delighted that our apprenticeships programme has been recognised in the National Apprenticeship Awards 2017. Our apprentices are a credit not only to themselves but the whole organisation here at Yorkshire Building Society. We’re committed to providing great career pathways across a number of business areas whether in one of our head offices or throughout the UK in one of our branches. I’m proud of the culture that we have created and display on a daily basis.

“For us, there’s no such thing as a typical apprentice. You could be just out of school, looking to change your career, newly graduated and looking for something different or just out of retirement. There’s no average age, no average background and no experience required – we are much more interested in finding applicants with the right values and passion for exceeding customer expectations.”

The ceremony also saw The YBS Group named in the prestigious Top 100 Apprenticeship Employer list. The list, which is compiled annually by the National Apprenticeship 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 ambition, and they highlight how apprenticeships are a great route into skilled employment for people of all ages and backgrounds.”

Richard Harcourt, Director of Group Operations at Rolls-Royce said:

“Having championed apprenticeships for over 100 years, Rolls-Royce are always delighted to celebrate the achievements of apprentices and their employers at the National Apprenticeship Awards.

“As a large employer, with over 600 apprentices, we are very encouraged to see newcomers enter this awards category and to celebrate the high quality apprenticeships they offer.

“Apprenticeships are an exceptional way of attracting talent into our business; developing the required skills, knowledge and behaviour that will help Rolls-Royce pioneer cutting-edge technologies that deliver the cleanest, safest and most competitive solutions to our planet’s vital power needs.”

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 outstanding 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 .