Equipment hire company A-Plant has been named as one of the UK’s leading companies for providing apprenticeships. The firm, which has 150 apprentices amongst its 3,300-strong workforce, has been featured in the Top 100 Apprenticeship Employer List and is the only major hire company to make this listing.

The Top 100 companies were officially announced at the National Apprenticeship Awards which took place in London. After a tough selection process, the most exceptional employers from all categories went forward to feature in the list, which showcases the breadth of employers who offer apprenticeships. A-Plant are joined by other leading names including the British Army, Barclays, Ford Motor Co, DHL and Mercedes-Benz.

A-Plant was the pioneer for apprenticeships in the construction equipment rental industry, starting the company’s first Apprenticeship Programme back in 2005 and it continues to be one of the most successful and highly valued schemes industry-wide, underlined by the fact that A-Plant received 5,000 applications for its most recent intake in September last year.

Commenting on the entry in the Top 100 Apprenticeship Employer List, A-Plant’s Head of Training, Bob Harper said, “There are over 5 million businesses – big and small – across the UK, so it’s a huge honour for us to be recognised nationally as a leading light in the development of apprentices. We believe we are leading the way in the hire industry when it comes to apprentices; they play a vital role at A-Plant, helping us to plan for the future and provide the right skill set to support the business as it grows. By the end of our current financial year, investment in apprentices will have topped £1.6 million.”