In addition to highlighting key successes and personal development, the Group Rhodes apprentice awards recognise those who have made a significant contribution to their department.
The company says that training young people and retaining skills has become a critical factor in the development of the UK’s Advanced Engineering Sector, and it has addressed this challenge by offering apprentices and younger engineers a series of career paths across several engineering disciplines.
About 9% of Group Rhodes employees are apprentices. Their focus on training and professional development has this year been rewarded by qualifications at every academic level from NVQs and ONCs through to first-class degrees — and even an MPhil.
The company has a successful track record of working closely with learning centres, with local colleges and the Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre training school in Rotherham forming the main source of its apprenticeship training; it also has strong working relationships with Sheffield Hallam University and Leeds Metropolitan University.
Award categories and winners for 2014 comprised: Most Sustained Performance (winner Jake Lawrence, runner-up Jamie Kirkham); Most Improved Apprentice (winner Josh Lees, runner-up Jordan Harrison); Most Outstanding Achievement (winner Daniel Barnes, runner-up Kayleigh Darrington); and Apprentice of the Year (winner Anthony Smith, runner-up Jermane Cockerill).