A Cumbrian firm has been named as one of the top 50 apprenticeship SME employers in England.
Responsive, an inspection, testing and training organisation has been listed within the top 50 SME apprenticeship employers for 2022 by the Government.
The new national league table recognises England’s leading small and medium-sized apprenticeship employers for their commitment to apprentices, creation of new apprenticeships, diversity of new apprentices, and the progression of apprentices on to further apprenticeships and employment.
With offices and workshops in Whitehaven and Workington, Responsive have 22 local employees with staff in Manchester and a new facility in Southampton.
Lee Grears, Responsive chief executive, said: “Without a doubt, this is our greatest achievement ever. The future skills and the identification of the gaps early have allowed us to recruit for attitude, nurture and mentor for skills and qualify for the NVQ, the academic part of the apprenticeship. We have a range of employees that are undertaking some form of NVQs including Level 6 at degree level. I’m exceptionally proud of my team and what they have achieved”
Olivia Winter, a Responsive NVQ apprentice, said: “I started at Responsive in 2018 as a business administration apprentice. Since completing my NVQ I’ve gone on to complete a further NVQ in HR and now preparing for my level 6 degree level apprenticeship starting in September. Completing a degree while at work means I earn, and I don’t have the burden of debt such as at university. This also allows mean to gain valuable industry knowledge and forge a career.”
Trudy Harrison, Copeland MP, said: “I’d like to congratulate Lee and the team at Responsive for being named in the top 50 SME apprentice employers in the UK.
“This is an outstanding achievement and we are fortunate to have organisations like Responsive, who are committed to delivering such high-quality training, on our doorstep.”
