We Are A Regional Apprenticeship Awards Finalist!
Posted on Nov 04, 2020Penny Post is awarded ‘Highly Commended’ at the Regional Apprenticeship Awards 2020. What a fantastic achievement!
Now in their 17th year, the National Apprenticeship Awards showcase the diverse and growing range of sectors engaged with apprenticeships. The awards celebrate employers who fire up their business with apprenticeships, outstanding apprentices who blaze their own trail, and individuals who champion apprenticeships with passion. Penny Post is a finalist in the SME Employer of the Year category for the West Midland region.
Four years ago, the Penny Post Board recognised that although a successful credit union, the team was of a ‘certain age’, and investment in a younger team was essential to build on our achievements.
Our first 2 apprentices, Jaspreet Kaur and Hannah Copson, were recruited in 2017 as part of a succession plan to bring in new ideas, take on senior roles over time, and drive the business forward. Lewis Price joined as an Apprentice in 2018, and our current apprentice, Tanya Aspbury joined in August 2019.
Hannah, Lewis and Tanya are Penny Post Customer Service Advisors, whilst Jas is Customer Service Supervisor – the youngest supervisor ever in our 25 year history!
We’re proud to invest time and money in these young people, including mentoring, training, development opportunities locally and nationally, and bespoke Personal Development Plans.
Jas, Hannah & Lewis have all participated in the ‘Credit Union Futures Programme’ – the ultimate young professionals’ development programme delivered in partnership by ABCUL and the Credit Union Foundation. We hope to help Tanya with her application in the future!
Apprentices have brought a pleasing vibrancy to Penny Post and helped us think ‘younger’. Their enthusiasm, outlook, hard work and positivity are key to Penny Post’s success in recent years and will be an important part of our future.
They have also contributed to raising Penny Post’s profile, regionally and nationally. Jas was shortlisted for Apprentice of the Year 2019 in the Black Country Chamber Awards, and won the national Tracy Slane Award 2020, awarded to a young person who has made an outstanding contribution to their credit union and/or to the wider movement.
Hannah, meanwhile, not only graduated from the CU Futures programme in March this year, but was part of the team who won the Team Project Challenge, which included a presentation to a professional panel including broadcaster, journalist and writer, Liz Barclay.
The current pandemic has made things difficult for everyone this year, but this didn’t stop Lewis being selected for the 2020 CU Futures programme. Tanya meanwhile, has coped with remote working and remote learning, as she continues her Apprenticeship training from home.
We are so proud of Jas, Hannah, Lewis and Tanya and their contributions to Penny Post, so being selected as a regionalist finalist for the National Apprenticeship Awards really is the icing on the cake!
At the virtual awards ceremony on Wednesday 4th November, we were awarded ‘Highly Commended’, just pipped to the post by Crimson Ltd who will go forward to the National Finals!