Susan Hughes

This award recognises significant contributions to the continued development of employees through “earn & learn” schemes such as apprenticeships, graduate schemes and sponsored students course placements.

The 5% Club is a dynamic movement of employers who are inspired to take positive action for increased, inclusive, and accessible workplace training for all. With a membership which now exceeds 750 companies, The 5% Club represents over 1.6 million employees, 93,500 of whom are in “earn and learn” schemes.

The Employer Audit is a unique scheme which validates the employers’ activities, explores their future plans and commitments, as well as examining their approaches to quality, social mobility, diversity and inclusion.

From a list of 129 members, Morris & Spottiswood was one of the 107 employers who met the gold standard.

Susan Hughes, HR director at Morris & Spottiswood, said: “We are proud of our investment in our staff members and are delighted to have met The 5% Club’s gold standard. The award reinforces our commitment to attracting and nurturing the best talent through our apprenticeship, trainee and graduate development programmes. We understand that our team is the backbone of this business and in order to achieve our ambitious 10-year growth plan we recognise the importance of investing heavily from top to bottom to have the necessary skill and competence.”

Mark Cameron, chief executive at The 5% Club, added: “Our Employer Audit scheme recognises the efforts of all those employers who invest in their workforce through a broad range of workplace learning schemes. It is fantastic that in these challenging times so many are able to commit to the Employer Audit and to gain the credit for their efforts, and that the majority are striving to expand their schemes over the coming years. Their efforts and achievements are to be applauded.”

Gill Cronin, director of Operations at The 5% Club, commented: “Having seen The Club grow to more than 750 members, I am always impressed at the commitment, drive and energy our members channel into offering “earn and learn” skills opportunities. To now see so many of these members gain Bronze, Silver and Gold accredited membership of The Club is inspiring and demonstrates how these companies are all contributing to the future of skills in our economy.”