The company, which was only recently granted Gold status by the organisation that recognises employers large and small who commit to increased, inclusive and accessible workplace training, picked up the “Breadth” category prize for SMEs (small to medium-sized businesses).

In London to pick up the award at the Lords on Friday were Pacific managing director Gerard McMahon and Lauren Gray, head of HR and administration.

The 5% club – which has a membership of 750 businesses across Britain – promotes and recognises “earn and learn” schemes such as apprenticeships, graduate schemes and sponsored students course placements that allow workers to develop their skills and potential.

A total of 129 firms committed to a formal audit by the Club to gain accredited Gold, Silver or Bronze membership, and Pacific Building were one of 107 employers who met the Gold Standard – and one of just six north of the Border.

All these companies were then shortlisted for an award, and the team at Pacific then received the good news that they were one of the lucky 12.

Sponsored by the Open University the “Breadth” award for SMEs went to Pacific, and the large employer prize was granted to Bell Group.

Mark Cameron OBE, chief executive of The 5% Club, said of Pacific: “Very many congratulations on winning our UK National ‘Earn and Learn’ Awards – SME Employer Breadth Award. This is a tremendous achievement, of which we hope you are justifiably proud.

“Very well done to everyone across your organisation who contributed to your submission and especially to those who are delivering the activity for which you have been recognised – it is truly inspiring.

“We are keen that all award winners join us at future events in 2023 to talk about the secret of their success and share best practice in their emerging talent strategies.”

Speaking at Pacific’s headquarters in Hillington today, Mr McMahon said: “As a company, we always say that ‘we exist to build great things’, but we can now demonstrate that we also exist to build a great business for the future.”

Pacific became an employee-owned business in January 2019, which means every staff member is a beneficiary of an Employee Ownership Trust, which owns Pacific Building Ltd on behalf of all employees now and in the future.