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MK apprentice programme the tops

It’s an achievement Sir Alan Sugar would be proud of – reaching the finals of a prestigious competition to find the nation’s best apprenticeship programme.

And for Milton Keynes the success is even more significant, with not one, but two companies beating hundreds of other businesses to be part of the Learning and Skills Council awards.

Buckingham based accountancy practice Anthistle Craven and electrical contractors SJD Associates of Bletchley are both in the final of the Small Company of the Year category of the LSC awards, which celebrate employers’ commitment to developing the skills of their workforce.

Both companies run their apprenticeship programmes in conjunction with Milton Keynes College where the employees study to gain the necessary qualifications to progress in their specialist field.

“It is such a major coup to have two companies on our apprenticeship programme reach the final of the contest,” said Alexa Wilkinson of Milton Keynes College.

“Both companies agree that their young apprentices have helped them grow their business significantly.”

Shaun Craven of Anthistle Craven, which has seen a third of its workforce develop through the apprenticeship programme since 2000, says it’s an excellent recruitment tool: “It allows us to recruit, train, retain, progress and promote staff from within. This strategy of recruiting and growing our own has given us control over our future.”

Ruth Devine of SJD says they introduced the training programmes in 2006 and it is now an integral element of the company strategy: “We feel apprentices are more motivated, driven and see a future with our company. We have already seen improved loyalty, greater individual responsibility and turnover has increased by 300% since 2006.”

The LSC awards ceremony is due to be held at Gatwick on May 20th when host Claudia Winkleman will announce the winners.

Website: http://www.learningandskillsawards.co.uk/2009/nominees.shtml