Member Article

Baltic Apprenticeships Get Gold for Staff Development

Baltic Apprenticeships have been recognised for their commitment to staff development with a gold accreditation from The 5% Club.

The Newton Aycliffe company was selected as one of 73 employers across the country to participate in the 2021 employer audit scheme, alongside big names including Aldi, BT, Coca-Cola, GSK, Lidl, PwC, and Siemens.

Baltic Apprenticeships topped the audit’s SME leader board for 2021, with 51 out of 196 members of staff enrolled on apprenticeships, graduate schemes, and other work-based training programmes.

The 5% Club represents over 600 organisations and 1.2 million employees. Employers joining The 5% Club make the commitment to invest in 5% of their workforce through apprenticeships, graduate schemes, and other ‘earn and learn’ opportunities within five years. Baltic Apprenticeships have exceeded this target in their first year of membership, with 26% of their employees currently working in an ‘earn and learn’ role.

Tony Hobbs, Managing Director at Baltic Apprenticeships said: “We are thrilled to have been awarded Gold Membership with The 5% Club. This achievement belongs to everyone at Baltic Apprenticeships. It represents our passion and collective advocacy for apprenticeships, skills development, and social mobility.”

Matt Welch, People & Culture Manager, added: “In a year like no other, we have doubled our team and tripled the number of colleagues enrolled on a qualifying earn and learn programme. Our Grow Our Own strategy is the cornerstone of this achievement, with over a quarter of our workforce building their skills across a range of disciplines, including data, IT, marketing, education, HR, finance, compliance and auditing.”

Mark Cameron OBE, Chief Executive at The 5% Club said: “We set out to create a scheme that recognises the efforts of all those employers who invest in their workforce through a broad range of workplace learning schemes. It is fantastic that in these challenging times so many are able to commit to the Employer Audit and to gain the credit for their efforts, and that the majority are striving to expand their schemes over the coming years. Their efforts and achievements are to be applauded.”

Gill Cronin, Director of Operations at The 5% Club added: “Having seen The Club grow to more than 600 members, I am always impressed at the commitment, drive and energy our members channel into offering ‘earn and learn’ skills opportunities. To now see so many of these members gain bronze, silver and gold accredited membership of The Club is inspiring and demonstrates how these companies are all contributing to the future of skills in our economy.”

At the time of the audit, Baltic Apprenticeships employed 25 apprentices, 19 graduates, and 7 employees enrolled on other ‘earn and learn’ roles, out of a workforce of 196 employees. The company continues to grow, and aim to increase their apprenticeship and graduate recruitment schemes throughout 2021-22.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Baltic Apprenticeships .