Gordons revealed as only law firm in UK’s top 30 higher apprenticeship employers
Monday 27th June 2016
Gordons’ pioneering legal apprenticeship scheme has been recognised as one of the best in the UK following a nationwide survey.
Carried out by careers advice company AllAboutSchoolLeavers.co.uk, the survey placed Gordons in the UK’s top 30 higher apprenticeship employers and in the top 100 employers for school and college leavers for 2016-17.
No other law firm is in the top 30 higher apprenticeship employers, a list which includes the likes of Barclays, National Grid, J.P. Morgan, Bentley Motors, PwC, BBC, Sky and IBM.
The accolade marks five years since Gordons launched its innovative legal apprenticeship programme. The firm pioneered apprenticeships within the legal sector and has been described as “leading the way on social mobility in the legal profession” by Social Mobility and Child Poverty Commission chair, Alan Milburn.
The firm introduced the Gordons Apprentice Programme (GAP) to tackle social mobility issues by providing an alternative route into the profession for bright youngsters without needing to follow the conventional pathway of attending university.
Since the inception of GAP, Gordons has taken on 17 apprentices. The programme involves 18-year-old school leavers training as chartered legal executive lawyers over five years through on-the-job experience and academic study. The firm pays their salaries and course fees, meaning they have no student debt.
In addition, Gordons’ apprentices can qualify at level six, the highest standard and honours degree equivalent, making their career prospects potentially unlimited.
Commenting on this latest recognition for GAP, managing partner, Paul Ayre, said: “We’re immensely proud of our apprenticeship scheme. It’s had a hugely positive impact on our business, and is something which our clients are really supportive of.
“GAP has set us apart within the legal sector. This latest recognition is testimony to the programme and everyone at the firm who is involved in its delivery.
“To be regarded as one of the very best higher apprenticeship employers across all sectors in the whole of UK, and the only representative of the legal profession, is an excellent achievement.”