The inaugural Ladder for Birmingham Apprenticeships Awards will be held next month and highlight the great work of apprentices, their employers and the education organisations helping them succeed.
Here, we profile all the finalists in the five team categories.
The award ceremony takes place on Thursday July 4 at Edgbaston stadium - ticket details and sponsorship opportunities here
And click through here to meet the individual category finalists
Small Employer of the Year (1-50)
Birchfield Dental Practice
Birchfield Dental Practice regularly recruits dental nurses using the apprenticeship model as the business has expanded over the years.
Many recruits are then employed once they have gained their diploma in dental nursing apprenticeship and continue to progress within the company.
The practice is committed to the apprenticeship programme as a vehicle to attract new talent and it actively encourages apprentices to attend weekly lessons at centres.
A comprehensive induction programme has been devised for all new staff and the practice promotes an all-inclusive recruitment policy, selecting staff from all age ranges and backgrounds, to reflect the make-up of the local community and client base.
Helen's Bakehouse and Tea Room
Helen's Bakehouse and Tea Room in Burton-on-Trent has run apprenticeship training for several years and seen eight staff achieve hospitality qualifications.
All of its apprentices are now full-time team members with two holding supervisory roles.
The tea room is always looking to train and update existing staff and has invested in standalone commercial courses for food safety while the owner has progressed colleagues with time and her own knowledge and skills to enhance their experience.
A feature of the tea room is using locally sourced materials and fresh ingredients in an open-style kitchen while all the products are baked and cooked on site.
WS Cleaning Solutions
The success of its apprentices has allowed WS Cleaning Solutions to grow and diversify into other avenues of cleaning and the company is looking for further apprentices.
Starting with its first apprentice in 2016 on cleaning and support services, it has now progressed that apprentice on to a Level 3 management qualification.
He now has his own van and continues to support the growth and reputation of WS Cleaning.
In 2017, the company took its second apprentice and has continued in the same vein, also acquiring his own van working within the Lichfield area and continuing with contracts with McDonald's.
Medium Employer of the Year (51-249)
Chase Terrace Technology College
Chase Terrace Technology College completed a review of its activities and produced an action plan to improve key areas which included the need to reduce the level of NEET students and that a greater awareness was needed of the post-16 and post-18 options available.
The team has now recruited six apprentices in business administration, IT and teaching assistants and is already planning for next year, increasing the number of students applying for apprenticeship positions outside of the ones available in school.
It has a partnership with an onsite recruitment agency which provides work experience for students and last year recruited a student who is now on an apprenticeship programme.
Cushman and Wakefield
Cushman & Wakefield employs five apprentices who joined the business in autumn 2018.
Their arrival into the Birmingham office has had a measurable impact on the property agency through their enthusiasm and commitment.
They have organised an office netball team, engaged in a national company televised debate and engaged on social media.
Cushman & Wakefield has provided a structured training programme so that each apprentice has a supervisor as well as a buddy together with a local apprentice co-ordinator and a national mentor.
The programme complements the university learning the apprentices have undergone in their academic progress towards a surveying degree which they are now completing at University College of Estate Management.
Hogarths Hotels
The hotel has created the Hogarths Academy of Hospitality and Service to help its staff to reach their potential and widen their horizons.
Through a dedicated approach to education and industry learning, its mission is to deliver the next generation of professionals by taking raw talent and training each individual to be the very best.
The hotel takes people from all walks of life to join its teams including those retraining from another profession and offers apprenticeships in a number of areas.
Hogarths is also part of the Mayor's One Million Mentors programme and anyone going through an apprenticeship or qualification is allocated a mentor.
Voestalpine High Performance Metals UK
Voestalpine High Performance Metals is addressing the challenge of attracting talent into the engineering sector through apprenticeships.
Tom Gowans, country manager and managing director for the UK, started his working life as an apprentice so has first hand experience of the value apprenticeships can add to a business and the career possibilities they open for young people.
Over the last few years, the company has recruited 27 apprentices, 13 of which have since taken full-time positions and the remainder are currently completing their training with a further five to join in summer 2019.
They fill a variety of roles from administration to engineering and the company has a mix of both male and female apprentices.
Large Employer of the Year (250+)
Adecco Group UK and Ireland
Adecco has been an advocate for apprenticeships for many years, employing and training employees from the Birmingham and Solihull area.
The company places on average 30 employees per year through an apprenticeship programme and also recruits approximately 15 per year through its shared services department alone.
It offers progression from one level to the next in fields such as business admin, customer service, team leading and management.
In 2018, Adecco started its first ever traineeship programme in which it offered six local NEETs a 12-week work placement across all areas of the shared services department.
The company also regularly visits local schools and colleges to discuss its apprenticeships and offers guidance on CV writing and interview tips.
HydraForce Hydraulics
HydraForce's four-year engineering advanced apprenticeship launched in 2004, giving candidates the opportunity to learn the practical and theory of their chosen discipline, either electrical or mechanical engineering.
The company encourages apprentices to further their education, with the option of progressing onto a HNC or a degree which can be fully funded by HydraForce.
Individuals are paired with experienced apprentices or colleagues who mentor them throughout their course and on-site training is provided, allowing them to shadow established engineers.
Apprentices work on real-time production projects and HydraForce is now running a Level 6 manufacturing engineering apprenticeship for the first time this year.
Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals NHS Trust
Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals NHS Trust has been involved in apprenticeships for more than 15 years and currently has over 170 staff on apprenticeship programmes.
It also became a provider, giving it the benefit of training NHS staff by NHS professionals.
The trust runs 'Live and Work' in partnership with St Basils homeless charity, providing accommodation and jobs through the apprenticeship route.
This project has supported more than 25 homeless young adults to change their lives through increased confidence, skills, education and employment with the trust.
Training programmes allow apprentices to contribute and one group investigated significant service improvement within the catering department.
West Midlands Ambulance Service
West Midlands Ambulance Service has offered apprenticeship opportunities since 2010, during which 443 apprentices have been recruited and trained.
Despite cuts to budgets, and more recently having exhausted levy funding, the service has continued to support and develop its workforce via the apprenticeship model.
Initially, training was offered for support services after which a programme was developed for the patient transport role.
Many of the apprentices have progressed onto higher level qualifications within the service with several gaining access to student paramedic courses.
The organisation has now expanded workforce development, delivering care, IT, customer service, management and business administration apprentices.
Birmingham Apprenticeship Training Provider
Performance Through People Training
PTP Training is an established training provider with more than 40 years of experience of working with employers, successfully supporting over 20,000 apprentices to gain employment.
The company is continually evolving its offer and recently invested in delivering project manager and regulatory compliance standards.
It works with schools to deliver apprenticeships in the classroom, highlighting the different options in becoming qualified with real work and life experiences.
PTP Training is a pro-active member of the provider community, contributing significantly to the development of apprenticeships, including its own, and representing partners in worldskills, SME engagement and LEP board and apprenticeship ambassador networks.
It has also worked on 'Ladder' campaigns in the West Midlands region to create new apprenticeship roles in the Black Country, Birmingham and Solihull.
Protocol Consultancy
Training provider Protocol Consultancy started as a one-man band 23 years ago and now employs 14 staff.
More than 50 per cent of its current staff have been with the company at least eight years and more with 75 per cent have been apprentices with Protocol from the start of their careers.
Staff and learners undertake numerous Level 2 to 5 qualifications which have been recognised by Ofsted and also have 'Beacon Status'.
Protocol has engaged with more than 2,500 employers, mainly SMEs, and trained over 5,000 learners, the majority of whom have progressed with five or more qualifications.
It has also supported more than 1,200 NEETs to gain employment and qualifications.
Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals NHS Trust
Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals NHS Trust has been involved in apprenticeships for more than 15 years and became a provider in 2017.
It currently has 140 apprentices working across a range of departments.
Its 'Live and Work' project, in partnership with St Basil's homeless charity, provides accommodation and jobs through the apprenticeship route and has so far supported around 25 homeless young adults to change their lives through increased confidence, skills and employment with the trust.
The organisation has invested in its staff by supporting the Level 4 teaching award to ensure improved practice and a better apprentice experience.
It aims to have a culture of inclusivity and has been asked to participate in 'The Five Cities Diversity Programme'.
Schools Engagement Award
Aston University
In 2017, Aston became the first university in the UK to have degree apprenticeship graduates.
To date, Aston has 78 degree apprenticeship graduates with 40 per cent awarded a first class degree and half a 2:1.
The university reviews its apprenticeships frequently, both internally and with employers, and it supports employers through tracking of apprentices’ achievements and with a recruitment programme designed to assess which skills applicants have.
Its degree apprenticeship strategy group meets monthly to discuss apprenticeship development and it is currently working on a September launch for a re-design of the chartered manager programme while new apprenticeships include digital and technology solutions and transport planning.
MAKE UK
Manufacturers’ organisation MAKE UK, previously known as EEF, has been recruiting, training and delivering apprenticeships for more than 20 years at dedicated facilities in the West Midlands.
Through its own investment and with guidance from manufacturing organisations, it has developed a state-of-the-art training campus in Aston and now works with more than 150 local and national companies.
Each year, it trains more than 400 apprentices and its dedicated recruitment team supports local schools across the Midlands via workshops and also hosts up to eight open events at its centre annually.
In March, it opened a free, dedicated STEM classroom which was designed by those school pupils that it is aimed at through a regional competition.
PwC
PwC’s school engagement team in Birmingham creates opportunities for young people to enhance their awareness, increase aspiration and gain access to the firm’s apprenticeship opportunities, skills workshops and staff.
This academic year, it has run more than 60 schools events including employability workshops, office insight events and mock assessments.
Every event includes employees from a school leaver or graduate programme, sharing their stories as role models for students.
Events can be standalone or in tandem with organisations such as the Ahead Partnership, Teach First and outreach teams at the city’s universities.
This summer, the financial services firm will welcome 60 Year 12 pupils, more than half of which will be from social mobility backgrounds, onto its paid Insight Weeks.
To learn more about the Ladder for Greater Birmingham campaign to create 1,000 new apprentices visit www.ladderforbirmingham.co.uk and visit www.reachplcevents.com for more details about our Apprenticeship Awards including sponsorship opportunities and to buy tickets.
