CLAAS UK win second EDGE award
CLAAS UK has achieved the distinction of being the only company in the agricultural industry to be awarded a 2006 Edge Employer Award, plus it is one of only two companies in the UK to have won two years in succession.
As the winner of the Medium to Large category for the East of England, CLAAS UK wins £10,000 to put towards further investment in training, plus it goes forward to the national finals and a prize of £50,000.
The Edge Employer Awards rewards organisations that provide outstanding learning opportunities for 14–25 year-olds and in 2006 is also rewarding individuals for their learning achievements. This year Edge is awarding £300,000 to employers that provide quality apprenticeships, excellent work placements and other practical learning opportunities.
John Palmer, Training Manager at CLAAS said, "We are absolutely delighted to have won this accolade. Not only is it wonderful to be recognised for the opportunities we are providing young people, but we now have £10,000 to help us continue and build upon the great things that we are doing."
Andy Powell, CEO at Edge said, "Edge is delighted to award this prize to CLAAS UK. CLAAS UK has created some fantastic opportunities for young people in East Anglia and has shown that hands-on learning is good for employers and employees alike. This is a great example of the good work we want to shine a spotlight on."
Following last year's award of £10,000, this has been matched by CLAAS UK and spent on the installation of a purpose built auxiliary hydraulic power system in the training centre at Saxham. This will enable equipment to be operated without engines running, resulting in a large reduction in background noise during training exercises, whilst also providing a safer and more effective environment in which training can be conducted.
Alongside its Apprentice Scheme run in conjunction with Writtle College, CLAAS has always been a strong believer in vocational training and learning by doing.
"This reinforces all the principles and skills involved in a subject and ensures maximum retention, such that each candidate is far more likely to successfully apply the skills learnt in their own job role," says John Palmer. "This builds confidence and the success achieved motivates each individual to set their personal targets even higher. This aids staff retention and morale and ultimately, through the application of better technical and diagnostic skills, customer satisfaction."
