Bentley Motors’s apprenticeship programme gained a highly commended at the National Apprentice Employer of the Year Awards for 2009 for the large business category.

At a ceremony held at Old Billingsgate in London, Julia Gill, attraction and development manager for trainees at Bentley Motors was presented with the commendation.

Despite being the company’s first appearance at the finals after winning the north west regional finals in May, the Bentley scheme was recognised as being one of the very best in the country and in the top three in its category.

Over 100,000 companies nationwide now participate in the National Apprenticeship Scheme.

Bentley was recognised for the breadth of its scheme. Rather than just manufacturing, the Bentley apprenticeship scheme includes all areas of the business, such as logistics, engineering and sales and marketing.

Apprentices are given the opportunity to spend a period of time living and working abroad within the Volkswagen Group as part of an exchange programme which sees Bentley host foreign apprentices wishing to gain some experience working in the luxury car sector at the Crewe plant.

Bentley Motors employs 51 apprentices who follow a three to four year training programme across a number of disciplines.

The apprenticeship programme is run in conjunction with the training provider Total People.

In addition, apprentices undertake day release to a local college to complete the necessary academic qualifications and develop the required underpinning knowledge.