MINISTER MEETS LINCOLNSHIRE EMPLOYERS WHO ARE
LEADING THE WAY TO DRIVE UP SKILLS

BGB Innovation received a visit from Phil Hope, Regional Minister, today (30 September) as part of a drive to increase Apprenticeships in the East Midlands and up skills levels.

The Minister met four of the five apprentices at Scots Hair Design, regional winners in the LSC East Midlands apprenticeship Awards 2008 in the Small Employer of the Year Award category, before taking a tour of another Grantham
based regional winner, BGB Engineering Ltd. He later met with representatives from the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) and other Lincolnshire based employers.

The Minister visited BGB Engineering in Grantham, winners of the Medium Employer of the Year category at the LSC East Midlands Apprenticeship Awards 2008. The company, a high precision electro-mechanical engineering company,
employs 72 people.

Later he met with other finalists and winners of employer of the year in the LSC Apprenticeship 2008 awards including Siemens Industrial Turbomachinery of Lincoln (winner, Large Employer of the Year Award, Honda Lincolnshire, Forum Computers (Finalist, Micro Employer of the Year), Grantham and Roger Begy, Chairman of the LSC East Midlands Regional Council.

Mr Hope added: “These employers from across Lincolnshire are leading the way in helping to increase the skills of young people. Apprenticeships play a central role in plans for growing skills in the economy, it’s clear to see how vital apprentices, and those companies supporting them, are in helping to combat the skills shortages across the region. The economy depends upon skilled individuals across the whole spectrum of vocational learning and it is important that we recognise the high achievements in these fields.”

Nick Rashley, LSC Apprenticeship Director for the East Midlands, said: "Skills are vitally important for individuals, for their future employability and for the success of organisations throughout the UK. Apprenticeships are vital for training young people, providing a blend of on and off the job training that gives the individual the skills they need for their chosen career, while earning a wage. “Employers that offer Apprenticeships reap the benefits of improved productivity, higher quality employees and increased staff retention."

View the official Learning and Skills Council press release. View PDF.

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