HEXHAM-based manufacturing firm Egger UK fought off stiff competition to win the apprentice category at the Tyneside and Northumberland Business Awards.

After demonstrating that over nine per cent of employees within the business have been or are apprentices, with 85 individuals completing a training programme since 2004, Egger was chosen as the category winner at the event held at the Newcastle Marriott Hotel earlier this month.

The firm now goes forward to the grand final at Hardwick Hall Hotel in Sedgefield on April 27.

As Northumberland’s largest manufacturing employer with over 620 employees, Egger is committed to continually investing in its technologically-advanced chipboard plant, its people, its products, services and processes.

“Given the complexity of the company’s activities, we have found that our apprenticeship scheme enables us to train people to become talented and skilled workers in a range of key areas throughout our organisation, which is vital for the future resource and stability of the business,” said human resources manager Jackie Stevenson.

To deliver their apprenticeship scheme, Egger works closely with TDR (formerly ETC and Rolls Royce), Access Training, Baltic Training, Discovery School, Tyne Metropolitan College and the National Apprenticeship Scheme.

And in 2013, Egger invested £4m in an apprentice training academy on-site in Hexham.

Accepting the award on behalf of Egger, engineering manager Arthur Harvey, said: “It is great to have our achievements recognised. This award underlines our commitment to developing and supporting our apprentices.”