Innovia targets repeat success with apprentices

The Brathay Apprentice Challenge looks to crown the UK’s Apprentice Team of the Year, by testing apprentices on their team building, leadership, logistical and communications abilities in a series of challenges including awareness raising and a community project.

Members of the Innovia Films team have so far visited schools and careers events in Cumbria to talk about life as an apprentice and opportunities available to students who choose an apprenticeship as a career route. The team is also putting the finishing touches to their community project, which will involve supporting Wigton Youth Zone.

Apprentices from Innovia Films won the competition in 2013 and is hoping to defend the crown in 2014.

Sam Ogle, IT apprentice at Innovia Films and leader of the 2014 Brathay Apprentice Challenge Team, who was also part of the triumphant 2013 team, said: ‘It was fantastic to be a part of the apprentice team of the year 2013 and I am looking forward to motivating the new Innovia Films team and inspiring them to great things in the Brathay Apprentice Challenge 2014. 

‘The challenge is a fantastic way to showcase the talent we have in our apprentices and the skills they gain makes them a real asset to Innovia Films.’

The eight finalists will be announced at the House of Commons in April and will battle it out to be crowned Apprentice Team of the Year. The teams take part in further awareness-raising and fundraising activities until June 9, when they will make a trip to Brathay Trust’s Windermere headquarters to complete the logistical and team building adventure finale. 

The overall winner will be announced on June 11.

Karen Woodward from the National Apprenticeship Service said: ‘The activities that the apprentices undertake in the challenge are part of an enhanced apprenticeship which benefits both employers and apprentices; employers gain a workforce with transferable skills throughout the business while apprentices themselves become more employable and more likely to be promoted.’

Pictured: The Innovia Films’ Brathay Apprentice Challenge 2014 team (back row, from left) Sam Ogle, Dylan Small, Dan Watters, Luke Curwen, Kieran Nicholson, Luke Curwen, (middle row, from left) Dan Jones, Will Steel, Dan Hickman, (front row, from left) Sarah Lightfoot, Sophie Dobson