Heating and plumbing firm CentraHeat’s strong commitment to apprenticeships has been given official endorsement in a prestigious awards scheme.
The firm, based in Royal Wootton Bassett, was highly commended as runner-up in the Small Business Employer of the Year category at the South West Regional Apprenticeship Awards. 
The annual awards, now in their 13th year, are run by the National Apprenticeship Service, which funds and co-ordinates apprenticeships across England.
CentraHeat was set up in 2011 by Lee Flanagan as a sole trader and has since grown into a limited company with 11 employees. This growth has been supported and sustained by apprenticeships – of its seven engineers, three are apprentices.
Lee, pictured, who is now CentraHeat’s managing director, trained through the apprenticeship programme himself and saw first-hand how well it can work for both employer and trainee.
He said: “Offering an apprenticeship will take a business in all sorts of directions it may not have envisaged – so both the employee and the employer make considerable gains.”
He and his team are delighted by the recognition of their commitment to developing talent in the sector.
“We’ve always been committed to apprenticeships as a fantastic route to a fulfilling career,” he said. “I was an apprentice and am passionate about promoting these opportunities to young people.
“As a business, it’s important to bring in and nurture young talent to ensure the needs of the sector are met now and in the future. Employing an apprentice brings so much to the business as it engenders commitment, provides opportunity for development, creates business growth and keeps a team fresh as everyone brings something new to the table.”
The South West Regional Apprenticeship Awards ceremony took place at the Holiday Inn, Taunton. The Small Business Employer of the Year category was one of five categories for employers with a further three for apprentices.
