Portsmouth motor group named as one of the country's best at supporting apprentices

Apollo Motor Group, a bodywork damage crash repair centre in Fitzherbert Road, Farlington, was placed 67th in a list of the UK’s Top 100 Apprenticeship Employers.

Director Bradley Eyles said: ‘We were placed higher than some really exceptional companies along the way such as M&S, Co-op, Pepsi, Tesco and Babcock.

‘We are absolutely over the moon to receive national recognition alongside some really brilliant businesses, especially after all our efforts that we have gone through to develop our internal academy, to ensure that we can give young people the opportunity to build a successful career within our excellent industry.

‘Apprenticeships are such a key ingredient to the success of our business and we place a great emphasis on this to ensure we future proof our business in the years to come.

‘Being a Portsmouth-based business I feel this is great news to share with the Portsmouth community.’

Apollo Motor Group was founded in Portsmouth in 1985 by Graham and Tracy Eyles. It has 15 sites across the south of England and employs more than 350 people.

It also runs The Apollo Academy, which sees children with an interest in the motor industry find out about the possibility of doing work experience with the company.

The firm has worked with schools such as Springfield School, Admiral Lord Nelson, and UTC Portsmouth.

The Top 100 rankings were set up this year by the government to showcase the best of England's large apprenticeship employers, with employers recognised for providing some of the most successful apprenticeship programmes over the previous year.

More than 400 applicants were received.

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Apprenticeships and skills minister Gillian Keegan said: ‘A huge congratulations to all those businesses featured in the Top 100 Apprenticeship Employers rankings.

‘Apprenticeships help business of all sizes to grow, and give people of all ages and backgrounds a chance to learn new skills and get ahead in their chosen career.

‘They will continue to play a vital role in delivering the skills individuals and the economy needs to thrive after coronavirus. I hope this initiative highlights the crucial role of apprenticeships in bringing in new talent and supporting our economic recovery, and encourages even more employers to get involved.’

Prime minister Boris Johnson said: ‘Now more than ever we should celebrate businesses who are driving our efforts to build a stronger, fairer, and more competitive economy.

‘High-quality apprenticeships give people from all backgrounds and ages a real choice in life, providing them with the skills employers value, which our economy needs, and which lead to better paid jobs.

‘These modern employers are at the heart of levelling up our workforce, and with the extra support we are providing will help the country build back better from coronavirus.’

A message from the Editor, Mark Waldron

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