Member Article

Bond Dickinson recognised for apprenticeship programme

National law firm Bond Dickinson LLP has won the Newcomer Employer of the Year award in the South West Regional Apprenticeship Awards last week.

Organised by the National Apprenticeship Service, the awards showcase the very best apprenticeship employers and apprentices in the South West and recognise excellence in businesses growing their own talent through apprenticeships programmes. The awards also celebrate apprentices making a significant contribution in the workplace.

Bond Dickinson was amongst the first law firms to make legal apprenticeships available, with the first apprentices joining the business in 2014. This award win follows the Employer of the Year Award won by the firm earlier this month for its apprenticeship programme at the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives awards.

Sam Lee, Head of Recruitment at national law firm Bond Dickinson LLP, said: “We have seven legal apprentices across the business and following the very positive feedback we have received firm wide, we are committed to expanding this scheme further and broadening into other areas of the business in the next 12 months.”

“Our legal apprentices are paramount to Bond Dickinson as they play an important role in our pipeline of future fee earners and are therefore key to the growth and success of the firm. Over 1000 applications were submitted for these awards and therefore being recognised by the National Apprenticeship Service is a testament to the excellent scheme we offer, enabling our apprentices to acquire transferrable skills and fundamental knowledge in a hands-on and supportive work environment.

“What we value most is watching our apprentices grow and mature. Earlier this year, two of our apprentices were promoted into paralegal roles and we look forward to seeing this number rise in the coming years.”

Award winners from each category and across each region will soon be shortlisted to take part in a national final in January 2017.

Bond Dickinson provides legal services across a wide range of sectors including energy, manufacturing, financial services, insurance, retail, insurance, transport and private wealth. It has seven offices nationally, including two in the South West in Bristol and Plymouth.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Womble Bond Dickinson LLP .