We are delighted to introduce The Burnside Partnership as sponsor of the Oxfordshire Apprenticeship Awards 2021 Apprenticeship Employer Award (<250 employees). The firm decided to sponsor an employer award in both 2020 and 2021 having won the small employer award themselves in 2019. Practice Director Richard Burnside explains why Apprenticeships are so important to The Burnside Partnership and why they are supporting the Oxfordshire Apprenticeship Awards. 

Tell us why you’re supporting the Oxfordshire Apprenticeship Awards and why you have chosen to sponsor your particular category 

As recent winners, we are thrilled to be supporting the 2021 Oxfordshire Apprenticeship Awards which celebrate both talented Apprentices and the firms which allow them to prosper. We have sponsored both the Small and Medium Employer Awards because The Burnside Partnership believes it is important to recognise the role played by smaller companies who support and develop Apprentices within their organisations.

What are you looking for in the winner of your category?

We are interested in finding out how you as an employer develop and nurture the talent of your Apprentice(s) through effective on the job experience, training and mentoring. We look forward to hearing about the support you provide and the commitment you make to your Apprentice(s). We will be looking for evidence of how this has benefited both the Apprentice(s) and the firm.

What would you say to anyone thinking about entering or nominating?  

If you are involved with Apprentices in your workplace, this Award is a great opportunity for you to demonstrate to a wide audience in Oxfordshire and beyond the advantages that Apprenticeships bring to those involved.

Tell us about your organisation’s experience of Apprenticeships 

The Burnside Partnership began to promote Apprenticeships when it was established in 2015 and since then we have been passionate advocates of Apprenticeships. Working in association with the training provider CILEx, our award-winning legal Apprenticeship programme has recently expanded to include Business Administration Apprenticeships. Many of our Apprentices have participated in the Oxfordshire Apprenticeships Ambassador Scheme and they regularly visit local schools to share the benefits of Apprenticeships.

Anna and Della Burnside are pictured below with the Apprenticeship Employer of the Year (<50 employees) Award 2019. 

Join the conversation

Join us for Oxfordshire Apprenticeships Hour (#OAHour) on Twitter @OxonApprentice from 1pm every Thursday for latest on the Awards and join in the conversation using the hashtag #OAAwards2021.