Vital Network Solutions Is Highly Commended At National Apprentice Awards

Online, June 6, 2011 (Newswire.com) - Vital Network Solutions has received a highly commended accolade in the Yorkshire and the Humber heat of the National Apprenticeship Awards.

Vital has taken on three apprentices in the past five years and regards its in-house programme as major part of its strategy of training and developing staff.

Organised by the National Apprenticeship Service (NAS) the awards celebrate the achievements of apprentices and the businesses that employ them.

Lee Evans, managing director of Vital Network Solutions, said: "This is the first year we have entered the awards so we are very pleased to come away with a highly commended accolade.

"It's through our close relationship with Microsoft that we were introduced to the idea of employing apprentices who would receive vocational training and recognised industry certifications such as the Microsoft Certified Professional qualifications, that are so important to our company, while working within the business and gaining critical real life experience.

"Through our on-going involvement with the Microsoft Partner Apprenticeship scheme, we have experienced first-hand and benefited from the high quality, qualified and enthusiastic members of staff that can be developed through the apprenticeship scheme."

Vital is an IT service provider and Microsoft Partner working with small businesses across Yorkshire to support, manage and deploy business technology and IT solutions.

Its apprentices are assigned to the technical services department and attend specialist training college QA, in central Leeds, to gain recognised industry qualifications from CompTIA and Microsoft, among others.

Nick Wilson, director for the NAS in Yorkshire and the Humber, said: "This year's awards were a terrific showcase of the outstanding wealth of apprenticeship talent that we have across Yorkshire and the Humber.

"It's been a tough year for businesses and the economy but the awards have given apprenticeships the chance to shine; showing that they are key to growth during the economic upturn.

"All the finalists demonstrated what makes apprenticeships so successful, not only in Yorkshire and the Humber but throughout England. The winners are now ambassadors for apprenticeships and for the region's dedication to this programme."