Chesterfield barbers Less Than Zero has been included in the annual list of top 50 best SME apprenticeship employers across the country.

The business based on Soresby Street in the town centre ranked 36th in England for taking on and developing apprentices.

The Top 50 SME Apprenticeship Employers 2022 recognises leading small & medium-sized apprenticeship employers for their commitment to employing apprentices, their creation of new apprenticeships, the diversity of their new apprentices, and the progression of their apprentices onto further apprenticeships and employment.

The new annual rankings have been developed by the Department for Education, in partnership with High Fliers Research.

Martin Wallis-Keyworth, Owner of Less Than Zero commented: “We are over the moon. To know that we’d been nominated for it at all was amazing. We then knew we were finalists for the Top 100 then invited to an online TV announcement but we still thought we’d hadn’t been successful and when we hadn’t reached the 51 to 100 we actually logged off.

“That evening we looked at our emails and had 120 unread messages we knew something had happened and the first email we saw was a congratulations from the “Investors In People”.”

Martin explained how his business has worked with its apprentices to achieve the accolade: “It’s about the mindset of the apprentice and the employer being as one. Added to this a supportive and professional learning provider. We’ve been partners of the best for over 4 years now, Realise Training who were given the amazing accolade of Apprentice Training Provider 2022.

“Apprentices are the life blood of the company as they are the next generation of talent. We are always on the lookout to grow our team both in numbers but more importantly talent therefore in terms of people we ensure everyone has a Personal Development Plan and the necessary support in the company to ensure that’s understood and delivered. ”

For businesses considering taking on an apprentice in Chesterfield, Martin had the following advice: “Apprentices aren’t right for all business or put it more specifically, not every business of right for an apprentice.

“There’s a level of maturity needed within the business and also within the apprentice to understand Apprenticeships aren’t a quick fix they are part of a long journey of continual development and that sticking with it is what’s needed. Within my business sector, barbering, it offers learners and new entrants and amazing opportunity to have an amazing lifelong skill, have fun, have opportunities opened up that only superstars can dream of and earn great money.

“We try and empower our apprentices whether that’s a work experience starter on an NVQ Level 1  or a manager within the business on a Level 6.”

Meanwhile fellow Chesterfield company, Clee Hill Plant were also named in the list, with the firm ranking highest out of all plant hire companies in the UK.

Clee Hill has maintained a successful Apprentice Scheme for over twenty-five years which is an important element of its Business Development Strategy for the future.

Gavin Kirk, HR Manager, said: “Clee Hill Plant has a long history of supporting apprentices through their training programmes and enabling them to obtain a nationally recognised qualification in plant maintenance and repair.

“We are extremely proud of our apprenticeship pass rate and retention, with over 40 per cent of our operational employees either undergoing apprenticeship training or having completed their programme and choosing to continue their career with Clee Hill Plant.

“Apprentices who have completed their apprenticeships with us have progressed to become highly competent and experienced Plant Engineers, either workshop based or mobile.

“We offer a three-year advanced apprenticeship in plant maintenance and repair with training taking place ‘on the job’ and through block release at college.”

To find out more about apprenticeships in Chesterfield, go to: https://www.chesterfield.co.uk/apprenticeships/

Less Than Zero supports the marketing and economic growth of the town through Chesterfield Champions, a network of over 200 organisations across Chesterfield and North Derbyshire.