Chepstow-based Mabey Bridge’s commitment to training and apprenticeship has been recognised at the prestigious international Learning Awards 2014, with the South Wales based steel manufacturer securing a Bronze Award in the category of Apprenticeship Programme of the Year.

The Learning Awards celebrate and honour the best achievements in the learning sector, and attract entries from all over the globe, with winners chosen from those organisations that can demonstrate exceptional vision and depth in providing learning solutions with a proven business impact.

Mabey Bridge has a highly developed apprenticeship programme now in its 9th year and is already an award winner, having secured Large Employer of the Year at the Apprenticeship Awards Cymru 2013. The company employs an impressive 29 apprentices across its three manufacturing sites.

Nigel Hyde of Mabey Bridge Ltd, said: “Mabey Bridge puts a lot of value in apprenticeships and we are proud that we employ such a high number of apprentices across our business. We are totally committed to training and personal development and we dedicate considerable resource to the programme to ensure it delivers as much value as possible for our apprentices and, ultimately the business.

“Our apprenticeship programme was originally started to ensure a steady supply of skilled craftsmen and craftswomen into the business to support growth in turnover and strategic growth for the business. With our external partner Coleg Gwent we have developed a programme that not only perfectly suits our present and future needs, but which is innovative, rewarding for our apprentices and inclusive. We are pleased that we are able to attract young women into engineering as well as young men.

“We are delighted that our apprenticeship programme has been recognised at these highly prestigious international awards. It is a further validation of the efforts of our training and apprenticeship team, and everyone involved in delivering the programme should be congratulated.”

Mabey Bridge learned of its success at a glittering ceremony in London’s Park Lane hosted by TV newsreader and presenter Natasha Kaplinsky. The ceremony was attended by international figureheads from the global learning community.