The award recognises significant contribution 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 all of whom are inspired to take positive action for increased, inclusive, and accessible workplace training for all. With a membership that now exceeds six hundred, The 5% Club represents over 1.2 million employees, 67,000 of whom are in “earn and learn” schemes. The Employer Audit is a unique scheme that validates the employers’ activities, explores their future plans and commitments, and examines their approaches to quality, social mobility, diversity and inclusion.

In this inaugural year for the scheme, Morris & Spottiswood was one of the 58 employers who met the Gold Standards.

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. Whilst the last two years have been incredibly challenging; our commitment remains focused on developing talent for the future from within our business to be a part of our continued success.”

Mark Cameron OBE, chief executive at The 5% Club, said: “We set out to create a scheme that 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, added: “Having seen The Club grow to more than 600 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.”