Employer of the Year Award for ACE Winches, December 2009
ACE Winches were named the country’s top medium sized employer at the Scottish Modern Apprenticeship Awards, which recognised the importance the company places on training.
Alfie Cheyne, Chief Executive Officer of ACE Winches, said: “We are absolutely delighted to have received this recognition for our commitment to our Modern Apprentices. It means a great deal to watch these young people grow into the engineers of the future.”
Modern Apprenticeships offer those aged over 16 paid employment combined with the opportunity to train for jobs at craft, technician and management level. Apprentices work alongside experienced staff to gain job specific skills as well as training, perhaps one day a week, with local providers such as colleges.
Education Secretary Michael Russell, who attended the event and met many of the finalists, said: “We need to ensure our young people have the right skills to enable them to grow as individuals and to help our economy to grow and recover from these difficult economic times.
“The Modern Apprentice programme is a key part of that – providing training to help us build and maintain the infrastructure needed to develop a skilled workforce. The Scottish Government, through Skills Development Scotland, has continued to invest in the programme this year which will ensure that our workforce is fully and appropriately equipped when economic conditions improve.
“I want to congratulate all those who received awards and also their employers and training providers who are working hard to support them in building their future careers.”
Damien Yeates, chief executive of Skills Development Scotland, said: “ACE Winches and the other category winners are to be congratulated on their tremendous achievements. These exceptional people and organisations have found their ideal career and training programmes through the flexibility of the Modern Apprenticeship programme which helps Scotland’s workforce gain the skills needed to meet the challenges of today’s economy.”
ACE Winches recognise the importance of nurturing young talent and not only train Modern Apprentices, but offer local full time employment on completion of their apprenticeships.
ACE Winches’ Modern Apprenticeship scheme has been used to encourage career progression within the company. Successful graduates have gone on to become chargehands, supervisors and managers. Peer and team leader support is very much encouraged as is involvement with local schools and colleges.
Valerie Cheyne, CFO of ACE Winches, said: “We invest in and train our Modern Apprentices from school leavers and students based in our local area to become skilled engineers, some of whom travel the world in our Hire Personnel Division representing the north east of Scotland in supporting our Manufacturing and Hire Equipment Fleet delivering quality, service and products. Our development programme continues to improve and innovate, and the company continues to invest in training of all employees which has resulted in high employee retention rates.”
The company works with ITCA in Aberdeen and Banff and Buchan College in Fraserburgh, to deliver its Modern Apprenticeship programme.
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