A commitment to apprenticeships at national law firm Bond Dickinson, which has an office in Bristol, has earned it official endorsement in a prestigious awards scheme.
The firm won the Newcomer Employer of the Year category in the South West Apprenticeship Awards.
The annual awards, now in their 13th year, are run by the National Apprenticeship Service, which funds and co-ordinates apprenticeships across England.
They showcase the best apprenticeship employers and apprentices in the South West and recognise excellence in businesses growing their own talent through apprenticeships programmes.
The awards also celebrate apprentices making a significant contribution in the workplace.
Bond Dickinson was among the first law firms to make legal apprenticeships available, with the first apprentices joining in 2014.
The firm has seven legal apprentices across its seven offices and following very positive feedback is committed to expanding this scheme further and broadening into other areas of the business in the next 12 months.
This award win follows the Employer of the Year Award won by the firm earlier this month for its apprenticeship programme at the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives awards.
Bond Dickinson head of recruitment Sam Lee said: “Our legal apprentices are paramount to Bond Dickinson as they play an important role in our pipeline of future fee earners and are therefore key to the growth and success of the firm.
“More than1,000 applications were submitted for these awards and therefore being recognised by the National Apprenticeship Service is a testament to the excellent scheme we offer, enabling our apprentices to acquire transferrable skills and fundamental knowledge in a hands-on and supportive work environment.
“What we value most is watching our apprentices grow and mature. Earlier this year, two of our apprentices were promoted into paralegal roles and we look forward to seeing this number rise in the coming years.”
The South West Regional Apprenticeship Awards ceremony took place at the Holiday Inn, Taunton.
Award winners from each category and across each region will soon be shortlisted to take part in a national final in January.
Pictured: Sam Lee, head of recruitment at Bond Dickinson; Elaine McCully of the National Apprenticeship Service; Mark Norman-Ball, deputy onshore manager at Bond Dickinson receiving the award
