The Liverpool City Region Combined Authority has been recognised as one of the Top 100 Apprenticeship Employers in England in a new table published detailing the country’s outstanding apprenticeship employers.

Over 400 employers from a wide range of industries and business sectors entered for the inaugural rankings this year with entries independently assessed and the data used to compile a new national leader board of top apprenticeship employers.

The Combined Authority made the top 100, after being judged on the number of apprentices currently employed, the number of new apprenticeships created over the last 12 months, the diversity of these new apprentices, and the progression of apprentices onto further apprenticeships and employment.

There are 65 staff members at the Combined Authority currently undertaking apprenticeships, with 28 having already completed theirs. There are plans to expand this even further during the current business year.

Metro Mayor Steve Rotheram said:

“Apprenticeships are a crucial way into the world of work as I well know as a former apprentice. I have always backed apprenticeships as a great way for individuals to progress and for businesses to develop the skills they need.

“It’s fantastic that the Combined Authority has been recognised for the early work that we have done to get more apprenticeships into the organisation, but this is only the start.

“I’ve committed to guarantee a job, training or apprenticeship opportunity to anybody under the age of 25 and I’d  encourage businesses to talk to us about the support we can give to help take on apprentices or expand what they are currently doing.

“This recognition complements the work that we have already done to develop  the online resource “Be More”, a one stop shop for apprentices  and employers, and in supporting large companies to transfer their unspent Apprenticeship Levy to smaller organisations.”

Peter Mucklow, Director, Apprenticeships, Education and Skills Funding Agency added:

“During such a difficult year it is encouraging to see that apprenticeships continue to be critical to business performance and success.

“This announcement shows that there are outstanding employers delivering apprenticeships across all sectors, and the Top 100 apprenticeship employer rankings rightly give recognition and thanks to those who have shown, and continue to show, huge commitment to apprenticeships.

“I look forward to seeing how these 100 employers use their status to showcase the many benefits of apprenticeships, whilst encouraging other employers to consider recruiting an apprentice.”

Beginning in 2020, the annual rankings have been developed by the National Apprenticeship Service, in partnership with High Fliers Research.

They showcase the nation’s Top 100 employers that have done the most to provide successful apprenticeships over the previous 12 months. Apprenticeship employers from many different industries and sectors appear in the Top 100 including the public sector, the third sector, hospitality, telecommunications and accountancy.

More information can be found on the Top 100 by visiting the website at  https://www.topapprenticeshipemployers.co.uk/