Burnley Borough Council Battled Hard In Apprentice Team of the Year Challenge

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• published: 13 Jun 2013
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Nine apprentices from Burnley Borough Council narrowly missed out on the top three places in the search for the official 'apprentice team of the year' following a six month challenge against some of the country's leading employers and training providers. For more information on Apprenticeships visit www.apprenticeships.org.uk. Burnley Borough Council was competing against eight seven teams and raised over £3,500 for charity and completed a community project which involved packing and delivering food parcels to local people in need. The teams in total raised over £34,000 for eight charities as well as staging school talks and conducting media interviews to explain how Apprenticeships enable young people to earn while they learn in a real job, gaining a real qualification and a real future. Supported by the National Apprenticeship Service, the Brathay Apprentice Challenge tests non-technical work skills and the personal attributes of competing apprentices. The final stages, at Brathay Trust's Cumbrian HQ saw Innovia Films crowned winners, with Norse Group and 2012 winners Cobham in joint second. Burnley Council was competing alongside East Midlands Housing Group, Unilever, Plymouth City Council and BCTS, a team of apprentices from small businesses across Norwich, trained by Broadland Council Training Services. The two-day event in Cumbria tested teams' problem solving and physical endurance, culminating in a muscle sapping whaler boat race, across Lake Windermere that tested the upper body strength of competitors to the maximum. The eight finalists were selected from over 90 teams that entered the competition and delivered more than 280 school visits to talk about Apprenticeships and 60 community projects, ranging from renovating derelict community spaces to holding CV drop-in clinics for local youngsters. Gina Cole from Burnley Borough Council, congratulated their apprentices and said: "Our apprentices are a vital part of our organisation and to see them recognised in a national competition is a huge achievement for both us as an organisation and the apprentices as individuals." Minister for Skills, Matthew Hancock, congratulated Burnely Borough Council's team: "When you look at the talent and enthusiasm shown by Unilever, it's obvious why more businesses are choosing to hire Apprentices. 92% of employers who take on Apprentices say they lead to a more motivated and satisfied workforce. "The competitors in this year's Brathay Apprentice Challenge are an asset to their companies and an inspiration to other young people. The challenge is further evidence that Apprenticeships are fast becoming the norm for young people who want to achieve their career goals through an alternative route to University." David Way, Executive Director of the National Apprenticeship Service, said: "Burnley Borough Council are a great example of what a team of apprentices can contribute to an organisation. Employers increasingly tell us that hiring apprentices is a great way of attracting new talent and developing a motivated, skilled and diverse workforce." Godfrey Owen, Chief Executive at Brathay Trust, commented: "It was a great honour to welcome the eight teams of apprentices to Brathay Trust and see them compete for the honour of the apprentice team of the year. The competition was of a very high standard this year and we congratulate Burnley Borough Council on their performance."