A leading Midlands-based engineering firm has been recognised for its work in ‘building young futures’ with a new award from a Government-backed accreditation. Birmingham-based ADI Group has received the new Gold Award from the 5% Club, introduced this year as an employer-benchmarking programme from the business organisation.

In the inaugural year of the 5% club’s new scheme, ADI was one of just 58 employers in the UK that met the Gold Standard, validating the firm’s approach to ‘careers quality, social mobility, diversity and inclusion’.

Highlighting companies that are ‘excelling at providing’ a number of ‘earn and learn’ opportunities for young people throughout a number of industry sectors, the Gold Award presented to ADI recognises that at least 5% of the company’s 700-strong workforce is made up of apprentices.

Alan Lusty, ADI Group’s CEO, said: “We are delighted to be recognised among Britain’s brightest skills leaders. ADI was born with a commitment to engineer a better future for all, and that begins first with our people.

“We want to empower them, encourage them to get involved and explain why their job matters. Young people will be the ones tasked with engineering the future of tomorrow, so it makes sense for us to offer a vital foothold and a highly rewarding career pathway for their development. Our business recognises the potential they hold, and we look forward to continuing to provide a platform that will help Britain’s post-Covid-19 skills fightback.”

ADI Group currently runs two separate apprenticeship platforms for budding young engineers to get involved in. In September 2016, it launched the UK’s first pre-apprenticeship scheme for 14- to 16-year-olds, ‘revolutionising the future of STEM education in the UK and tackling a nationwide deficit in high-quality apprenticeships’. The scheme also managed to operate safely throughout the pandemic, offering youngsters skilled placement opportunities at a time when many firms were pulling the plug through financial difficulties.

The business also runs its Apprentice Academy, with in-house on the job training. James Sopwith, ADI Group’s strategic account director, said: “Our two schemes hit key development points. Alongside a traditional apprenticeship, we also try to help younger students understand the rewarding career pathways available through engineering, dispelling myths around our industry while they are in education. We find it helps to focus minds, both solidifying our recruitment pipeline as well as giving youngsters a competitive advantage in a tough jobs market later in life.”

Mark Cameron, the 5% Club’s chief executive, added: “We set out to create a scheme that recognises the efforts of all those employers who invest in their workforce through a broad range of workplace learning schemes. It is fantastic that in these challenging times so many are able to commit to the Employer Audit and to gain the credit for their efforts, and that the majority are striving to expand their schemes over the coming years. Their efforts and achievements are to be applauded.”