The Awards, now in their fourth year, are hosted by the LSC and are designed to recognise the hard work and commitment of young people currently on, or who have recently completed, an Apprenticeship, and employers who are successfully using Apprenticeships to improve business performance. 

A finalist in the Micro Employer of the Year category, Stockport based Blue Flame Engineering Ltds founder Stuart Eakins had no idea the company would become a hot house for training apprentices.

I started Blue Flame as a small one-man semi retirement business two years ago. It seemed logical at the outset to take on an apprentice to benefit from my engineering experience, so I approached Stockport College. Since then, the business has enjoyed stunning growth as our joint enthusiasm triggered a chain reaction that means three of my five-man team are apprentices, with a stake in the business.

Reigning Medium Employer of the Year, Derbyshire based Slack & Parr Ltd has been named a finalist for the third consecutive year. The engineering company has been training apprentices for over 90 years and nearly half (48 per cent) of the companys current workforce are apprentice trained with one in seven holding senior positions.

With apprentices currently making up 14 per cent of the 200-strong workforce, Richard Hallsworth, Managing Director says their Apprenticeship programme is now, more than ever the life blood of the company.

Michelle Grandon, 23, is set to complete her Advanced Apprenticeship in Telecomms Engineering at BT-Openreach this summer, where she combines her engineering role with coaching other apprentices on her team. Her role involves working in the field and installing and repairing ICT equipment.

Due to the diverse training the Advanced Apprenticeship brings, Michelle now has the ability to see a job through from start to finish, which previously would have required three different engineers. This benefits Openreach and its customers with faster repair and provision times. Over the last year, Michelle has also taken on the additional responsibility of becoming the training and development coach for the North West region.

Mechanical Engineering apprentice Zenel Lika from Atherstone in Warwickshire has been shortlisted for the Personal Achiever of the Year Award. Zenel, now 19, fled war torn Kosovo to the UK in 2002 after his house was attacked by masked gunmen, and his mother arranged his escape. After arriving in Warwick when he was 14, he went to school before being accepted to do an Apprenticeship in Mechanical Engineering. Zenel says: I was determined to succeed and make something of myself despite my circumstances. Its been difficult for me to learn the language and keep studying but I was determined to achieve something. I will not give up until I have gained my Apprenticeship qualification.

And 25 year old Shaun Anderson is a finalist in the Personal Achiever of the Year category. He is a great example of how one can succeed despite major setbacks, and kept up his studies for his Electrotechnical Advanced Apprenticeship during a six month imprisonment for affray due to alcohol consumption. Shauns tutors at Hull College helped him keep on top of his Advanced Apprenticeship, which meant he was qualified for a new job with Reliance Electrical at the end of his sentence.

This years Awards attracted over 1,000 entries, from apprentices and employers all vying to be named Apprentice or Employer of the Year at this years ceremony being held on Wednesday 20th June at the London Hilton on Park Lane, where TV presenter Nick Knowles will announce the 2007 winners.

Nick commented: My experience in broadcasting, particularly on DIY SOS, has helped me to appreciate the importance of learning new skills. Im very proud to have been asked to present this years Apprenticeship Awards. Its a prestigious event and Im looking forward to meeting all this years finalists.

Stephen Gardner, director of apprenticeships at the Learning and Skills Council says: At a time when our nations skill levels need to be improved, apprentices are excellent examples of people who are making plans for their futures by learning the skills and knowledge they will need. Their dynamic attitude to work is recognised by the LSCs national Apprenticeship Awards. The Awards are now in their fourth year a positive sign of the outstanding contribution individuals and UK business are making to raise skills levels and improve productivity and competitiveness nationally.

On behalf of the LSC, I would like to congratulate each and every finalist for their hard work, development and commitment to their Apprenticeship programmes. They have worked extremely hard to raise their skills levels and I hope they prove to be positive role models to others who choose to undertake Apprenticeships. I look forward to meeting each and every one of them.