Apprentice team of the year competition hots up

The regional heats stage of the Challenge, from January to April 2015, will see 80 teams of nine apprentices from across England prove that they have the best team building, logistical, leadership and community skills needed to claim the title of the apprentice team of the year.

Following the heats, the top eight teams from across the country will go forward to the national finals, with the winners being revealed at Brathay Trust’s Windermere headquarters on 8th July 2015.

Large employers that have signed up include HSBC, Mondelez International, Ford Motor Company and Rolls Royce. Household names will battle it out with small and medium sized employers including, Winchester City Council and Ginger Nut Media, all hoping to be crowned the apprentice team of the year 2015.

Training providers are also represented in the Challenge with teams of apprentices enrolled in training at organisations including, Kingston College, Newton Rigg College and Rotherham College.

Last years’ runners up British Airways, QinetiQ, Queen Elizabeth Hospital Kings Lynn and Virgin Media have also entered to try and earn the title of apprentice team of the year 2015.

Supported by the National Apprenticeship Service, the Brathay Apprentice Challenge offers an enhanced apprenticeship, giving apprentices the chance to improve their team building, logistical, leadership and community skills.

The three months of regional heats see teams spread the word about apprenticeships through school visits, media interviews and social media activity and a project to benefit their local community. This year, teams have also been tasked with reaching out to employers and encouraging them to take on apprentices.

Finalists will be announced in May before going on to compete in further awareness raising, and fundraising activity culminating in alogistical and teambuilding finale at Brathay Trust’s Windermere headquarters from 6th to 8th July.

Sue Husband, Director at the Skills Funding Agency, said: “The Brathay Apprentice Challenge attracts a wide range of organisations year on year and gives them a chance to develop the skills of their apprentices by pulling them out of their comfort zones.

“The skills that the apprentices learn not only benefit themselves, but also their organsiations by creating a workforce that has excellent team building, logistical and communications abilities. These skills can be transferred to the workplace as well as helping apprentices reach the higher positions in an organisation.”

Godfrey Owen, Chief Executive, Brathay Trust, said: “It is always great to see the huge range of organisations registering to take part in the Challenge. We wish all of the teams luck in the regional heats and look forward to hearing about their activities.”

For more information on the Brathay Apprentice Challenge, visit www.brathay.org.uk/challenge