“We’re ecstatic!” says winner of the Yorkshire and Humberside round of the SME Employer of the Year category - National Apprenticeship Awards 2020

4 Nov 2020 12:39 PM

KC Communications in Huddersfield have won the prestigious Yorkshire and Humberside regional heat of the SME Employer of the Year category at the National Apprenticeship Awards 2020. The company, a team of seven, are a marketing and PR agency – and two of their team are digital apprentices. The award is sponsored by BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT, the professional body for the digital industries, in association with RITTech.

Katrina Cliffe, Managing Director of KC Communications said:

“We’re absolutely ecstatic to receive this award. We’re a very small business and considering that we were up against some of the bigger employers in our region this really is a testament of how very small businesses can play a vital part in supporting apprentices at the start of their career journey. Hopefully, this will encourage more businesses to consider taking on an apprentice.

“While we’re going through the ongoing economic challenges due to Covid-19, supporting young people to get into the workforce is absolutely vital.

“We believe that for anyone to be successful, both professionally and personally, the key is learning, no matter what stage people are at in their careers. We are committed to investing in our colleagues, and this is shown by our commitment to apprenticeships. We are passionate about making career ambitions comes true and supporting our staff to do just that.”

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 KC Communications 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 9,000 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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