Gordons wins newcomer employer category at Yorkshire & Humber national apprenticeship awards

Thursday 12th September 2013

Gordons is celebrating after winning the Investors in People Newcomer Employer of the Year category at the regional final of the National Apprenticeship Awards 2013.

Held at Leeds College of Music on September 10, the Yorkshire and Humber Awards comprise five employer categories and four individual awards. Now in its tenth year, the awards are organised by the National Apprenticeship Service and are open to all business sectors across England.

The Newcomer Employer award acknowledges and celebrates employers for their commitment to developing their workforce through apprenticeships. The firm is now through to the national final where winners will be announced during the opening ceremony of the UK’s largest national skills and careers event, The Skills Show, at the NEC in Birmingham on November 14.

The award category required Gordons to detail how the firm integrated its apprenticeship programme into the business and its benefits to both the apprentices and the practice. This included explaining why the firm decided to invest in an apprenticeship programme and future development plans for it.

Gordons also explained how its apprenticeship scheme is aimed at tackling social mobility issues, as well as introducing more diversity into the legal profession. With regard to this, the firm’s scheme has previously been praised by the Rt Hon Alan Milburn, chair of the Social Mobility and Child Poverty Commission.