Apprentices from Nottingham City Homes have been named National Finalists in the search for the Apprentice Team of the Year, after being the highest scoring team in the whole region.
After four months of hard work by over 650 apprentices from across 75 organisations from the country’s leading apprentice employers, training providers and colleges, the National Finalists of the Brathay Apprentice Challenge were announced at the House of Commons by Godfrey Owen, Chief Executive of organisers Brathay Trust.
Pictured above are Leanne Dainty, apprentice plumber and Matthew Gustard, Team leader of the NCH Brathay Apprentice Challenge team.
The team from Nottingham will be joined in the final by huge national companies, including JCB, GlaxoSmithKline, IBM, Redrow Homes and Severn Trent Water.
As part of the Challenge, the Nottingham City Homes team of apprentices organised a community project involving renovating a toy library.
The Nottingham City Homes team also conducted 20 visits to schools and youth groups to talk about the benefits of apprenticeships, and hosted five business events to talk to potential employers about offering apprenticeships.
On getting through to the National Finals, Matt Gustard, the team leader for the NCH Brathay Apprentice Challenge Team, said: “We’re so pleased to have not only made it into the national finals, but put ourselves in fourth position. There’s lots more to do to try and secure us a win in the final part of the challenge, but we’re a very determined group of people and we want to achieve this title for ourselves, the company and to make our friends and family proud.”
Nick Murphy, Chief Executive for Nottingham City Homes, added: “I’m incredibly proud of our apprenticeship programme at NCH. The members of our Brathay Apprentice Challenge team have been fantastic ambassadors for our own scheme as well as spreading the word about apprenticeships generally. They have been working so hard alongside their day to day jobs and training get to this stage in the competition.
“The fantastic thing about this challenge is the wider benefits and impact it can have on our local communities. The team has been able to offer help and support to groups across Nottingham, using their skills and knowledge gained during their apprenticeship, to complete huge tasks for the benefit of others. We all wish them well as they continue on to the national finals.”
Across the UK, the teams taking part in the Challenge have spread the word about apprenticeships visiting nearly 500 schools and youth groups to talk about the benefits of earning while you learn on an apprenticeship. The teams also hosted over 120 business events to talk to potential employers about offering apprenticeships, recruiting nearly 400 organisations to start hiring apprentices.
The National Finalists will now continue awareness raising activities until early June, when they will be invited to Brathay Trust’s Windermere headquarters for the Logistical and Teambuilding Finale where the apprentice team of the year will be announced on 14th June.
Speaking at the House of Commons National Finalists Announcement, Godfrey Owen, Chief Executive of organisers, Brathay Trust, said: “All of the teams that have taken part have worked really hard and the quality of the portfolios increases year on year.
“The apprentice team of the year finals demonstrate the skills, knowledge and desire to succeed from apprentices; and this continues to inspire others and impress us in equal measure. It is great to see apprentices put in the hard work to get the recognition they deserve, highlighting how apprenticeships benefit not only young people themselves, but their employers and their local community too.
“We look forward to the National Finals and welcoming the teams to Brathay in June for the Finale.”
