Thu, 08/16/2018 - 11:32

ROTHERHAM, United Kingdom - AESSEAL has received a national Princess Royal Training Award for its ‘outstanding’ training and development programme. It is the sixth award this year to recognize the Rotherham-based manufacturer of mechanical seals and support systems. The award citation recognised the ‘unique dedication to developing their workforce’ of AESSEAL and the impact its bespoke Manufacturing Apprenticeship programme - run in conjunction with Rotherham College and Sheffield University – has had on tackling the engineering skills shortage in South Yorkshire and achieving commercial success. The company recently invested £500,000 to double this year’s intake of apprentices to 40. Its apprenticeship programme won the 2018 Made in Sheffield Manufacturing Apprenticeship/Training Scheme Award and its apprentices Amber Nicholson, Nathan Wall and Ryan Morris have scooped awards this year, including two for Amber. The Princess Royal Training Award, delivered by the City & Guilds Group, sets AESSEAL among top UK organisations including John Lewis and the Royal Air Force to be honoured for their training excellence. Announcing the award recipients, Chris Jones, chief executive of the City & Guilds Group said: “Once again, it is evidence of the very real benefits that investing in staff development can bring to employers, large and small, private, public and not for profit. “At a time of increasing economic uncertainty and reduced investment into workforce development it is great to see critical business issues being addressed through impactful L&D. Through the Awards we highlight excellent examples of training that have already proved to be effective and we encourage others to build on their success.” AESSEAL will receive the Award from HRH The Princess Royal at a ceremony in October. Julia Bloomer, learning and development Manager said: “AESSEAL invests not only in our apprentices but in all our employees. They are central to the success of the company. Our commitment to tackling the engineering skills gap has helped us develop a team of highly qualified and loyal colleagues. We’re extremely proud of our 97 per cent staff retention rate.”