Member News
The Multicultural Apprenticeship Awards 2023 finalists have been released and Jesmond and Durham-based Robson Laidler has been shortlisted for the Employer of the Year category.
This year, all records were broken with over 450 nominations being submitted, of which over 350 were apprentices from over 250 different employers. Organisations range from household names and blue chip companies, to small, medium and micro-enterprises across all sectors. Robson Laidler has fought off some very tough competition to become a finalist.
The Multicultural Apprenticeship Awards in partnership with Pearson showcases the outstanding work and achievement of apprentices from multicultural backgrounds in Britain and inspires other apprentices to reach their full potential. The awards are organised by Pathway Group, who aim to close the diversity gap in apprenticeships by supporting apprentices and working with employers to make meaningful change.
Head of people and culture at Robson Laidler Amy Park said: "Being shortlisted for this national award is fantastic recognition for all that we do to embrace equality and diversity in our workplace."
The awards platform has been instrumental in creating future leaders and ambassadors for apprenticeships and has brought to the forefront key issues surrounding the need for more diversity within certain sectors.
Winning employers have showcased their diversity and inclusion strategies and how it’s helped them to shape an inclusive and diverse work environment as best practice examples for other organisations to follow suit.
“We’re not just here to celebrate apprentices, but also the people that employ and train them. Congratulations to all this year’s finalists!” said Safaraz Ali, CEO of Pathway Group.
Robson Laidler employs over 100 staff across its two offices in Jesmond and Chester le Street. The firm currently offers accounting apprenticeships for Level 3 and Level 4 AAT (Association of Accounting Technicians) and Level 7 ICAEW (Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales) qualifications. There are also Level 3 Business Administration apprenticeships and Payroll apprenticeships available within the firm.
The firm has a dedicated diversity and inclusion team who meet once a month with an agenda to make the workforce more inclusive and to engage people with a range of different backgrounds and experiences to increase creativity, and better problem solving and decision making across the business. According to its annual equality and diversity survey, 12% of employees were from non-white backgrounds.
Winners will be revealed on Thursday 5th October 2023 at an awards dinner in Birmingham.
