A Huddersfield business has been named SME Apprentice Employer of the Year.
Reliance Precision Limited received the accolade at the West Yorkshire Apprenticeship Awards 2024 which honour the region’s outstanding apprenticeship network.
The awards celebrate apprentices, training companies and businesses who champion apprenticeships.
Fenay Bridge-based Reliance Precision makes specialist engineering parts for machinery working in the toughest climates. This includes space, under-sea craft, aerospace and unmanned vehicles, along with vital components and production assembly systems for businesses.
In recent years Reliance has grown into new sectors such as satellites, bionic prosthetics and DNA analysis instruments.
Reliance training school manager Robert Farrell said: “It’s fantastic to be recognised as SME Apprentice Employer of the Year, especially given the high standard of apprenticeships in the West Yorkshire region.
“It simply would not be possible without the support of the mentors, team leaders, support team, leadership team and family owners. This award brings recognition for everyone’s hard work and highlights Reliance’s commitment to apprenticeships.”
Two of its staff, Andrew Mannion and Maria Perrins, were also selected as finalists for Degree Apprentice of the Year and Engineering/Manufacturing Apprentice of the Year, respectively. They received Special Recognition certificates at the awards.
Robert added: “We were delighted to learn that Andrew and Maria had been announced as finalists in the competition. They both really deserve to be recognised for their achievements, their contribution to the business and the support they give to the younger apprentices at Reliance.”
The Reliance Precision Apprenticeship Scheme has been running for more than 60 years. Apprentices make up approximately 10% of the Huddersfield workforce and 28% of employees are current or former Reliance apprentices.
The company currently aims to take on up to six apprentices each year who, in their first year, are based in the company’s training facility which has been accredited by The Institution of Mechanical Engineers and The Institution of Engineering and Technology.
The 2024 awards were hosted by Rich Williams, radio broadcaster for Virgin Radio UK, and held at the Cedar Court Hotel in Bradford.
Written by ANDY HIRST who runs his own Yorkshire freelance journalism agency AH! PR (https://ah-pr.com/) specialising in press releases, blogging, website content and copywriting.
