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Royal Air Force flies high in National Apprenticeship Awards

The Royal Air Force has been named as a finalist for the Macro Employer of the Year category in the South West regional final of the National Apprenticeship Awards 2020 which will be held Friday 6th November; if successful, the Service will move onto be a finalist at the National Awards Ceremony on 25th November. This year the ceremonies will be held with all nominees, sponsors and supporters attending ‘virtually’.

Now in their 17th year, the National Apprenticeship Awards are a fantastic opportunity to showcase the diverse and growing range of sectors engaged with apprenticeships and to celebrate the outstanding apprentices and employers who have gone above and beyond, in spite of the challenges faced during this pandemic.

Peter Mucklow, Director of Apprenticeships at the Education and Skills Funding Agency, said when the 2020 Awards were launched “It is important that we continue to recognise the employers of all sizes, apprentices and those who champion apprentices during this unprecedented time. I have been delighted by the on-going commitment from employers, recognising the many benefits apprentices bring and ensuring they can continue their studies.”

The Royal Air Force is celebrating the Centenary of the establishment of its Apprenticeships scheme in 1920. Fully committed to its apprenticeships programme, it offers apprenticeships to over 90% of its recruits; 24 trades complete apprenticeships which are delivered ‘in house’ across Ground Training Schools and out onto our many bases. With over 3,400 apprentices on programme at any one time, it is one of the largest providers in the country. Following its last inspection, the Royal Air Force’s Apprenticeships scheme was awarded the grade of ‘Outstanding’ by Ofsted and was recently listed at No.10 in the prestigious Top 100 Apprenticeship Employers List.

“In this Centenary year of its Apprenticeships scheme, the Royal Air Force is delighted to be recognised by the judges for its continuing commitment to developing our people through apprenticeships. We require a highly skilled and motivated workforce and passionately believe that delivering 'world class' apprenticeships to our new entrants is key to success when attracting high calibre people.

"Apprenticeships have enabled us to recruit many with underlying aptitude to succeed, rather than a strict reliance on qualifications, unleashing their potential at the start of an extensive scheme of through-career personal and professional development to progress through fulfilling careers and long-term civilian employment opportunities beyond.”

Alan Moss
Head of Royal Air Force Apprenticeships

Information about the Royal Air Force Apprenticeships scheme may be found at: recruitment.raf.mod.uk/apprenticeships