Tees Business Issue 36 | Page 40

Sponsored by UKISUG

BALTIC APPRENTICESHIPS

A training firm where women make up more than 60 per cent of the workforce had extra reason to celebrate its Training and Apprenticeships triumph .

For after being shortlisted for the award it subsequently won , Darlingtonbased Baltic Apprenticeships learned it had been rated Outstanding in five evaluated areas in its latest Ofsted report .

Its Tees Businesswomen Awards triumph was the icing on the cake for a business that began in a Hartlepool Portakabin back in 2006 .

Since then , the firm , which specialises in delivering national tech and digital curriculum programmes , has grown to boast an array of local and national clients .

In the North-East , it works with more than 145 employers to support almost 250 learners .

Delighted director of innovation Joanna Wake said : “ I guess for a humble organisation – we ’ ve come from really small roots , a Portakabin in Hartlepool – to being recognised as being such a good apprenticeship provider for females is fantastic .

“ I come from a very ordinary council estate in Middlesbrough , so to be here , being recognised as a provider and business doing our part for females around the country , as well as Teesside , is very special indeed .”

When entering the awards , Joanna said the firm “ crunched ” its data and found it had gone from an 80 per cent male leadership team to 70 per cent female , with nearly 65 per cent of all staff female .

And she said Baltic had “ always put itself on the line ” when it came to diversity , citing as an example its “ The Future Is Female ” campaign .

She added : “ We can see we have made a dent – and if everyone ’ s working towards making that little bit of a dent , the future for females can be dramatically transformed .

“ Everyone should feel proud of themselves for the role they ’ ve played .”

Opportunities – Joanna Wake , director of innovation at Baltic Apprenticeships , with Craig Dale , CEO of category sponsor UKISUG .

The only general further education college north of London to be graded Outstanding by Ofsted for its apprenticeship provision , the college has more than 1,000 apprentices enrolled , 263 of whom are female .

Working closely with more than 400 organisations and employers , the college plays a huge role in promoting women in engineering and other industries . With 1,461 females also enrolled on non-apprenticeship courses , Hartlepool College has a proven track record for helping females succeed .

It has also hired and promoted females into roles in industries that are still perceived to be male dominated . An example of this is Helen Gott , who is now the head of school for process , transports , fabrication and welding .

SPONSOR ’ S MESSAGE

Middlesbrough College Group is passionate about helping people achieve their goals through high-quality training . As a STEM specialist organisation , it is committed to inspiring female students , breaking down barriers and challenging stereotypes , with an excellent careers and support team that helps get female learners into college and interested in STEM careers .

Success stories include Lily Collins , Georgia Biswas and Jessica Costello , who are all studying Level 1 bricklaying . They are looking to make their way in what is still a male-dominated profession , with all three aspiring to progress to apprenticeships in bricklaying .

They could end up being the first allfemale bricklaying gang in the country – currently , 99 per cent of the UK ’ s onsite construction workers are male .

Julie Weir , UKISUG head of community development , said : “ UKISUG is all about people . They are the beating heart of both our community and organisation . Apprenticeships offer a valuable opportunity to cultivate fresh talent while transferring institutional knowledge . We were very impressed with Baltic Apprenticeships ’ development and drive to support and help women thrive in STEM careers , providing valuable employment opportunities for them .”

40 | Tees Business