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BAE Systems Scoops Employer of the Year Award at the Apprenticeship Awards 2005
21 Jun 2005
BAE Systems has been named Large Employer of the Year at the Learning and Skills Council's 2005 Apprenticeship Awards. The LSC recognised the company for its commitment to boosting business through Apprenticeships.
The ceremony at the London Hilton on Park Lane was hosted by four-time Gold medallist Sir Matthew Pinsent and Gold medal winning cox Garry Herbert. A record number of entries were received from employers and young people across eight different categories including micro, small, medium and large employers and Apprentice of the Year.
BAE Systems’ Advanced Apprenticeships programme attracts bright young sparks to the industry and enables young people without any engineering or business experience to develop their skills. It is an integral part of the company’s overall Education Partnership programme actively encouraging young people into Engineering.
The defence and aerospace industry demands by its very nature extensive, around-the-clock support from product introduction to service. BAE Systems typically recruits around 280 apprentices a year to meet its commitment to customers and, on a larger scale, to help tackle the national shortage of qualified engineering staff.
John Male, Head of Learning and Development at BAE Systems, gives solid evidence for the company's commitment to Apprenticeships: "The low attrition rate of the programme ensures that BAE Systems maintains and enhances its staff capability with enthusiastic and skilled young people who often fill senior positions as their careers develop.
"Our apprentices are self motivated, ready to take the initiative and go into problem-solving mode - reducing production time for the work they do by up to 25 per cent."
Stephen Gardner, Director of work based learning at the Learning and Skills Council, said:
"I would like to congratulate BAE Systems on being named Large Employer of the Year at this year's Awards. Their ongoing commitment to Apprenticeships is an excellent example to other major employers of the benefits Apprenticeships can bring to your business.
"Large companies should be leading by example by delivering top quality Apprenticeships. BAE Systems have set the standard - I challenge other large employers to match or exceed next year."
Xchanging manages the apprentice programme on behalf of BAE Systems, which includes recruitment of the apprentices, running the training programme over forty-two months and the Learning & Skills Council contract management.
The Awards are the second to be held by the Learning and Skills Council and are designed to recognise employers who are successfully using Apprenticeships to improve business performance as well as the hard work and commitment of young people currently on, or who have completed, an Apprenticeship. This year the Awards include a new micro-business category for businesses that employ between one and nine people, in addition to the Small, Medium and Large employer awards.
Over 1,000 employers and apprentices entered this year's Awards. Brett Baker, BAE Systems, came second in the British Gas sponsored Personal Achiever of the Year 19 - 24 Award. Employers were judged on a number of criteria including implementation of the programme, demonstration of the way Apprenticeships had benefited their businesses, and the level of support provided to the young apprentices within their organisation.
For further information contact:
David Morris, Euro RSCG Biss Lancaster
direct - 020 7467 9232
mobile - 07957 200 458
david.morris@bisslancaster.com
About BAE SYSTEMS
BAE Systems is an international company engaged in the development, delivery and support of advanced defence and aerospace systems in the air, on land, at sea and in space. The company designs, manufactures and supports military aircraft, surface ships, submarines, fighting vehicles, radar, avionics, communications, electronics and guided weapon systems. It is a pioneer in technology with a heritage stretching back hundreds of years. It is at the forefront of innovation, working to develop the next generation of intelligent defence systems.
BAE Systems has major operations across five continents and customers in some 130 countries. The company has more than 90,000 people and generates annual sales of over £13 billion through its wholly owned and joint venture operations.