Following receipt of City College Norwich’s Apprenticeship Employer of the Year award in the small to medium category (10-250 employees) earlier this year, we were entered for the National Apprenticeship Awards. Our application reached the regional judging panel and we were invited to attend the regional award ceremony on Wednesday 12^th September at Newmarket Racecourse where we were up for two awards – SME Apprenticeship Employer of the Year and Recruitment Excellence. We are incredibly proud to have been awarded with Highly Commended in both categories!

We have always been passionate about our commitment to training staff so are thrilled to have had this recognised. Recruiting in Norfolk can be challenging, so we have focused our efforts on taking on trainees as well as qualified engineers. With the National shortage of Engineers, we have employed many young people from secondary or further education and seen them through to completion of their academic and professional qualifications. By doing this we have achieved a loyal workforce, many of whom have remained with Plandescil throughout their working life. Our staff are motivated with strong work ethics and are willing to go the extra mile; we believe that this is because they can see the achievable route of progression, especially with some of our apprentices becoming directors within as little as 10 years.

With half of our current workforce having undergone a professional qualification with us, we are confident that apprenticeships are the right strategy for us. Seven of our forty members of staff are currently training for nationally recognised engineering qualifications including BTEC, HND, Degree and Masters Degrees.

We would like to wish all the finalists the best of luck at the National Apprenticeship Awards in November!