Care provider Heathcotes Group scooped the award for Large Employer of the Year at the Learning Unlimited National Apprenticeship Awards 2018, held at Pond’s Forge in Sheffield.

TV personality and journalist Helen Fospero hosted the ceremony, which presented various awards to businesses and individuals in recognition of their dedication, work and commitment to developing a skilled workforce through apprenticeships. Winners were chosen from hundreds of nominations received from peers and managers, as well as staff at Learning Unlimited, which provides recruitment and training programmes in conjunction with a wide range of organisations, including Heathcotes Group and Chesterfield College.

Heathcotes’ Managing Director, Brendan Kelly, said: “Winning this award is a fantastic achievement for all of the people involved in training and apprenticeships at Heathcotes. Health and social care is currently a very challenging sector and bringing in talented and dedicated people through apprenticeships is vital to achieve a sustainable model for high-quality care. Heathcotes and our learning partners, Chesterfield College, have developed a work-based learning programme which has proved to be exceptionally successful in creating employment and developing careers, both locally and nationally. We have achieved almost 600 apprenticeship starts over the past five years, with an 82% increase in apprenticeship starts between 2013/14 and 2017/18.”

Mark Bennington, Vice Principal Commercial Services and Enterprise at the Chesterfield College Group, said: “The Learning Unlimited National Apprenticeship Awards provided us with the opportunity to recognise the value of apprenticeships and the employers who are invested in the apprenticeship model. Each award presented during the evening represented the positive impact on each and every one of those individuals and businesses.”

With 62 specialist services nationwide, Heathcotes provides person-centred residential care for adults with learning disabilities, mental illness and associated challenging behaviours. Learning Unlimited, Chesterfield College and Heathcotes have jointly introduced sector-based work academies offering short courses, including Health & Social Care qualifications and employability skills. On completion of a three-week programme, participants are guaranteed an interview and often convert into support worker roles, complete their Care Certificate and get enrolled onto the apprenticeship qualification.

www.heathcotes.net