Eddie Stobart's brand new logistics apprenticeship programme has been hailed as the best in the industry after winning Apprenticeship of the Year at the Motor Transport Awards in London this week.
It beat off fierce competition to lift the new award which had been introduced to recognise the important part apprenticeships have to play in introducing highly-trained young people to the logistics industry.
Eddie Stobart partnered with System Training, to help deliver the programme. The initial training was made up of classroom, workshop and practical training - including preparing the apprentices, using the unique driving simulator, to gain their LGV licences.
Eddie Stobart then takes over and conditions the apprentices to driving heavy, loaded vehicles and provides the Group-wide experience required. It selected a series of experienced drivers to act as mentors to the apprentices. Mentors and students spend 13 weeks on the road, with apprentices undertaking an increasing amount of driving, to learn Stobart processes and procedures.
The apprentices were also placed in Stobart's fleet department, traffic planning office, truck wash, workshop and manned the driver phone lines in a bid to extend their experience and understanding of the various business elements.
The initial cohort had a treble 100% success rate with every apprentice passing their category C, C+E licences, successfully completing the scheme and taking up a role within Eddie Stobart.
All training is delivered at Eddie Stobart's purpose-built training academy in Widnes. It includes all the equipment and resources required to train employees to be first class, professional drivers including an indoor practical training area for hands-on experience with vehicles, trailers and in-cab technology.
The apprenticeship programmer is part of Stobart Group's commitment to develop its workforce and people. The Group aims to attract, develop and promote the best talent by creating a supportive environment in which all staff are given the opportunity to learn, develop and grow to achieve their full potential.
The Motor Transport Awards is the road transport industry event of the year and was attended by 1,600 of the industry's most successful companies.
Andrew Tinkler, Stobart Group chief executive, said: "The Eddie Stobart apprenticeship programme is a crucial strand in our recruitment process and our investment in the future of our workforce. It allows us to mould people into the Stobart way of operating and give them experience across the whole business. There are many career opportunities in logistics and we are already starting to see talented people emerging from the apprenticeship programme."