Group Rhodes hosted their Apprenticeship Awards 2014 at The Hepworth Wakefield, on Friday 12 September.

In addition to highlighting key successes and personal development, the awards recognise apprentices who have made a significant contribution to their role and department.

Training young people and retaining skills has become a critical factor in the development of the UK’s Advance Engineering Sector. Group Rhodes has addressed this challenge by offering apprentices and younger engineers a series of career paths across several engineering disciplines, and in turn has been rewarded by the emergence of a group of focused and dynamic individuals.

Approximately 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 NVQ’s and ONC’s through to First Class Degrees and even an M.Phil.  Group Rhodes strength is in their product differentiation and this in turn stems from the quality of the people that they train and employ.

The Company has a successful track record of working closely with learning centres. Local colleges and the Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre training school in Rotherham form the main source of apprenticeship training, and are pivotal to continuous education and personal development initiatives. Equally Group Rhodes operates strong working relationships with Sheffield Hallam University and Leeds Metropolitan University.

Award Categories and winner

• 1.     Most sustained performance

Winner: Jake Lawrence Runner-up: Jamie Kirkham

• .     Most Improved Apprentice

Winner: Josh Lees Runner-up: Jordan Harrison

3.     Most Outstanding Achievement Winner: Daniel Barnes Runner-up: Kayleigh Darrington

4.     Apprentice of the YearWinner: Anthony Smith Runner-up: Jermane Cockerill