The Awards, now in their 12th 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.
Skills minister Nick Boles said: “We are committed to three million apprenticeships by 2020 so that even more businesses can follow BAE Systems’ lead and reap the benefits of apprenticeships.”
On accepting the award, Steve Fogg, managing director, shared services, BAE Systems, said: “The key organisational benefit from our apprenticeship investment is meeting our future skills need. For complex technology requirements we simply cannot recruit all from the marketplace.
“Some 87% of graduating apprentices from the last 10 years are still working within the business, 38% promoted at least once, demonstrating a clear link to how the apprenticeship programme strengthens our workforce capabilities and provides business leaders.
“Our apprenticeships benefit BAE Systems, providing a critical talent pipeline of motivated and qualified individuals. The apprentice benefits through above average remuneration whilst training with real career opportunities.”
Employment minister Priti Patel added: “Apprenticeships offer a fantastic way for many young people of all backgrounds to earn as they learn while providing employers with the transferable skills needed to take their business from strength to strength. We currently have record-breaking levels of employment – and this is boosted by prospects like apprenticeships. I want to see this continue.
“By working closely with businesses and taking steps like rolling out our ‘Jobcentre Plus Support for Schools’ programme to teach pupils about work experience, apprenticeships and traineeships, we are helping to create an even more flexible and resilient labour market for the future.”
BAE Systems is a global defence, aerospace and security company employing around 84,000 people worldwide, with approximately 32,800 in the UK. The company takes on and solves customers` most urgent and complex engineering and technical challenges. Crucially, it maintains a technological edge to deliver and support the most advanced aircraft, submarines and ships, security systems combat vehicles and munitions. Developing a pipeline of highly skilled employees through apprenticeships is critical to the company’s future success.
With over 1,500 UK apprentices in learning at any one time, the company has significant plans for growth, averaging 2000 by 2018. In 2015 it had its highest UK intake ever of more than 780 apprentices, with around 600 new apprentice starts in England, a 40% increase from 2014.
To view the full list of award winners and finalists or for more information about apprenticeships, click here.
