Congratulating all the awards finalists, Labour’s Barry Sheerman, MP for Huddersfield, told the audience of apprentices and trainers that “you are working in an industry which knew of the need to protect the environment long before Blue Planet.”
And, one of Parliament’s new MPs, Gillian Keegan MP for Chichester, a Conservative who won Chichester last year, gave an address highlighting the importance of apprenticeships in industry, adding that they provide a good alternative to going through university, “without the debt”.
Mrs Keegan, who is co-chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Apprentices, told the apprentices that their training “is a journey as you continue your education in working life”. She added: “you are also in a good place to know and learn about the digital revolution, there will be people in the company now who will have to skill up for that.”
The MP had started life working as an apprentice in the manufacturing industry at the age of 16 for Delco Electronics.
The event, on the Terrace of the House of Commons, saw a range of apprentices at the waste and resources company recognised with Chelsea-Dale Bentley, overall apprentice of the year and Andrew McCrone as graduate of the year..
Upskilling
Marguerite Ulrich, chief human resources officer UK & Ireland for Veolia, said that the “role businesses play in continuing to develop and upskill UK plc is vital to our future economic growth and we’re product to manage extensive apprenticeship and graduate schemes at Veolia.
“We believe they are integral to the development of skills and innovation within the business and that it is important to recognise their outstanding contributions each year.”
Ms Ulrich explained that Veolia is “in the top 300 UK employers for graduates, for the second year in a row.” And, she added: “We also continue to have over 300 apprentices with over 30% in STEM roles (actually 39%, which is an increase from 10%) with a distribution of 25% female and 75% males across all business lines and corporate functions. Additionally our youth employment of age 16-23 has improved from 20% to 24%.
Those present also heard from Matt Pitt, Veolia’s head of people development who spoke of the impressive achievements of the apprentices and graduates.
Below: Winners and finalists at the 2018 Veolia National Apprentice & Graduate of the Year Awards.
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