Snow-Camp Charity shortlisted for National Apprenticeship Awards 2020

9 Nov 2020 01:34 PM

Snow-Camp Charity, based in Hove, East Sussex have won the prestigious South East of England regional heat of the SME Employer of the Year category at the National Apprenticeship Awards 2020 and will now head to the finals later this month. This category is sponsored by BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT in association with RITTech.

Snow-Camp Charity gives young people the chance to learn how to ski/snowboard combined with life-skills training & qualifications and offers free mental health support to all.

Dan Charlish, Founder and Director of Snow-Camp said:

“We are incredibly proud to have been named a regional winner at the National Apprenticeship Awards. As a youth-led charity, our apprentices are key members of our staff team and to have their efforts recognised with this prestigious award is amazing. We wouldn’t be the charity we are without them!”

Snow-Camp are the UK’s only charity using a combination of snow sports, life-skills training and mental wellbeing support to help young people from inner-city communities. Working at the indoor snow centres across the UK, Snow-Camp also provide qualifications, apprenticeships, and volunteering opportunities to those who would never normally get the chance to access this industry.

Throughout their 2019/20 programme year, 12 apprentices and 13 employees made up their staff team alongside 84 youth volunteers. Together they supported 943 young people who were referred to the charity through youth clubs and youth service providers.

Total Carbide Ltd, a manufacturing company, were highly commended in this category. It is the leading European manufacturer of sintered Tungsten Carbide wear parts.

At the start of 2020 SMEs accounted for three-fifths of the employment in the UK and around half of turnover in the private sector. Annette Allmark, Head of Apprenticeships at BCS congratulated the participants and said:

“These are difficult times, but the pandemic has only highlighted the important role that technology plays in keeping the economy going.

“At a time of crisis, investing in apprenticeships is not only important today but is absolutely vital for the long term. They play a critical role in plugging skills gaps and in helping to modernise the workforce, ensuring that employers’ evolving skills needs, for example in dynamic IT and tech occupations, can be met.”

BCS carries out the final check – called an end-point-assessment – whereby a digital apprentice demonstrates he/she is fully trained and competent. Around 10,000 digital apprentices have completed this process through BCS. By sponsoring the SME category at the National Apprenticeship Awards, BCS recognises the significant role small and medium-sized employers play when it comes to apprenticeships across all occupations and sectors.

Peter Mucklow, Director, Education and Skills Funding Agency said:

“The National Apprenticeship Awards are always very special, but it is more important than ever to celebrate all the exceptional apprentices and apprentice employers who have continued their commitment to apprenticeships during a challenging year.

“The Awards would not be possible without our sponsors, and I would like to thank BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT, for their support.”

The judging panels for the awards are selecting the regional finalists for nine different categories, including Apprentice of the Year and the Employer of the Year. Sponsors of the National Apprenticeship Awards 2020 include the Army and the Royal Navy, Accenture, and Lloyds Banking Group.

The ceremony for the national winners of the categories will be held on 25th November at the Royal College of General Practitioners in London and virtually.

Back for their 17th year, the National Apprenticeship Awards are a fantastic opportunity to highlight business and individual success in apprenticeships. Particularly poignant this year, given the challenges many employers and apprentices have faced during the pandemic. Each online ceremony will recognise apprentices that have gone above and beyond to make a difference whilst undertaking their apprenticeship.

The awards are open to apprentices, individuals who promote apprenticeships and employers of all sizes from all sectors, with entrants asked to demonstrate the impact apprenticeships has made to individual’s lives and their workplaces. There are nine regional awards across England and the final overall winner will be announced on 25th November at a virtual ceremony.

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