The Worcestershire Apprenticeship Awards 2017 were held last week on 16 November 2017 at the Tree Tops Pavilion, West Midlands Safari Park. 

It was an event celebrating 30 of the best apprentices, employers, training providers and schools within the region. The Group sponsored the Newcomer Apprenticeship Employer of the Year award which recognises an employer’s significant contribution to promote and improve Apprenticeships in Worcestershire. The finalists this year were AW Digital, Ping Marketing and Hogarth’s Stone Manor Hotel, with Hogarth’s Stone Manor taking the award.

Marina Banner, Executive Director of Vestia and Corporate Services, attended on behalf of the Group and commented: “As a business for social purpose, a key objective for The Community Housing Group is to create employment opportunities to support our local economy. We are able to offer the first steps in employment through our Apprenticeship Programme which include pre-apprentice employment support, as well as Intermediate, Advanced and Higher Apprenticeships. By nurturing the talents of our apprentices, they have added significant value to our business. We have seen them play a fundamental part in our organisation’s business growth strategy and we have seen a clear return on our investment. Without doubt Apprentices are good for business!”