Leading flexi-job apprenticeship agency, EN:Able Futures, is celebrating after being awarded the prestigious SME Apprenticeship Employer of the Year title at last week’s 2024 National Apprenticeship and Skills Awards.

The accolade follows the agency’s earlier victory at the Yorkshire and Humber regional awards that saw it go through to the national finals , further solidifying EN:Able Futures’ role as an exemplar in apprenticeship provision, while continuing to build the next generation of talent in the construction industry.

Part of Efficiency North Holdings, EN:Able Futures has been paving the way to the workforce of tomorrow through high-quality apprenticeships, empowering young people, and addressing critical skills shortages within the built environment sector – celebrating its 500^th apprentice earlier this year.

Julie Deeley, director of operations at EN:Able Futures, said: “Receiving one of the highest possible recognitions within the UK’s apprenticeship sector is an incredible endorsement of the endless devotion and hard work our colleagues, apprentices, and host employer partners alike.

“Over the years, we’ve built a reliable framework that delivers an outstanding learning experience and helps apprentices navigate the road to successful career pathways. We are over the moon with this recognition, and it can only highlight the vital role apprenticeships play in shaping the country’s future workforce, particularly in construction.”

The SME Apprenticeship Employer of the Year award highlights EN:Able Futures’ dependable approach to apprenticeship delivery, which includes robust mentoring, pastoral support  and flexible arrangements that cater to both large and small contractors. The agency’s unique structure allows a highly personalised approach to each apprenticeship, giving the apprentices the opportunity to gain skills that are in high demand and develop careers alongside the workforce development needs of the companies that host them.

Lee Parkinson, chief executive of Efficiency North, added: “This award comes at an important time for EN:Able Futures as we mark 11 years of supporting apprentices, and is a testament to our high standards and ethos of providing a quality service to our learners and employer partners. We’re incredibly proud of what EN:Able Futures has achieved and excited for what lies ahead.”

To date, EN:Able Futures has placed more than 500 apprentices across some 160 businesses, leading the way to addressing the industry’s pressing need for skilled workers. The agency continues to support boosting social mobility, particularly in communities across the North of England.

This win adds to a growing list of achievements for EN:Able Futures, which has previously been honoured with Construction Apprenticeship Employer of the Year at the Construction Apprenticeship Awards 2024 and SME Employer of the Year at the East Yorkshire Apprenticeship Awards and West Yorkshire Apprenticeship Awards.

For more information about EN:Able Futures, visit: www.efficiencynorth.org/futures.