Deere Apprenticeships Wins “SME Training Provider of the Year“ at the National Occupational Awards

Deere Apprenticeships has been recognised as Small/Medium Enterprise (SME) Training Provider of the Year at the prestigious National Occupational Awards (OAL) Industry Awards ceremony.

Based in Newark, Nottinghamshire, Deere Apprenticeships delivers high-quality training, mentoring and support to learners across the country. What sets them apart is their proactive philosophy and unique curriculum that underpins everything they do. They are also the East Midlands representatives for the Apprenticeship Ambassador Network (AAN) and they are actively supporting SMEs through buddying interventions, sharing best practice and helping employers to maximise the value of their apprenticeship programmes.

A Hands-On Approach to Excellence

The OAL awards judges were impressed by Deere Apprenticeships visible leadership. The Directors and training managers are hands-on and closely involved with their team and learners. This approach creates a culture where the entire team is highly competent and exceptionally skilled while bringing considerable experience to their work.

It’s not just about internal excellence. Deere Apprenticeships also stands out for being genuinely progressive for all stakeholders, both internal and external. Their impact shows up in their numbers, with exceptional learner achievement rates, impressive End Point Assessment (EPA) outcomes and a strong return on investment for both employers and learners.

The organisation’s commitment to quality is reflected in their rigorous approach to assessment and ongoing support, ensuring that every learner receives personalised guidance tailored to their individual needs and career aspirations.

Transforming Lives Through Quality Training

Where Deere Apprenticeships really shines is in the difference they make to learners’ lives. They have an incredibly high-quality delivery model that goes beyond academic achievement with further development. They also help learners develop functional skills in Maths and English, build confidence and strengthen their self-belief.

Their positive impact extends into the workplace too. Learner projects frequently lead to tangible business improvements such as implementing strategic ventures with impact, boosting productivity, driving efficiency savings, reducing waste and significantly improving key performance indicators (KPIs).

Unanimous Decision from the Judges

The judges were unanimous in their praise:

“Only in this category the judges’ decision was unanimous.”

“Deere Apprenticeships were the stand-out winner.”

“Deere Apprenticeships are progressive, proactive, forward-thinking, transformative, groundbreaking and innovative.”

The “SME Provider of the Year” award is recognition that is well deserved for a training provider that’s not just delivering qualifications. Deere Apprenticeships genuinely transforms the lives of the learners and the businesses they work for.