Birmingham-based firm adi Group is amongst a handful of employers to have this year been awarded Platinum Membership by The 5% Club.
Created in response to high youth unemployment and skills gaps, the movement aims to drive the development of ‘earn and learn’ opportunities, with members striving to achieve at least 5% of their workforce undertaking apprenticeships, graduate schemes or as sponsored students. The Platinum level of membership is awarded to participants who achieved Gold Membership in three consecutive years, and who in their third year have 10% or more staff members in ‘earn and learn’ positions.
This new milestone recognises adi Group’s significant and continued endeavours to foster development and innovation within the engineering industry. By being part of The 5% Club, adi stands alongside over 1,100 forward-thinking employers who are dedicated to driving positive change.
Collectively, members support 1.9 million employees, with more than 108,000 individuals participating in ‘earn and learn’ schemes. CEO, Alan Lusty, commented: “We are extremely proud to be amongst the few businesses who have achieved Platinum status this year.
“The 5% Club’s mission perfectly reflects our ethos as an employer. Bridging the skills gap in engineering is vital to support the future of the sector, and to really make a difference, we must offer more quality vocational opportunities such as apprenticeships.
“Developing diverse pathways that lead to a rewarding career in engineering is one of our key business objectives. We aim to effectively train and develop the engineers of tomorrow with a hands-on, innovative approach – and we are thrilled to be able to say we are making great strides forward.”
The 5% Club evaluates employers through its comprehensive Employer Audit, which provides invaluable benchmarking information. The report assesses the breadth and balance of organisations’ schemes, their commitment to inclusion, the quality of their training and development programmes, as well as plans for future growth.
Mark Cameron OBE, Chief Executive at The 5% Club, commented: “We are incredibly proud of the outstanding employers, like adi Group, who have gone above and beyond to invest in the future of their workforce through a diverse range of 'earn and learn' initiatives.
“Their dedication, especially during these challenging times, deserves to be celebrated. By achieving Platinum membership, adi Group has shown an exceptional commitment to shaping the skills of tomorrow, contributing not only to their business but to the wider economy.”
This year, adi Group celebrated the ten-year anniversary of its award-winning Apprenticeship Academy, whose learning pathway includes hands-on work in selected disciplines, health and safety modules, as well as involvement in strategic business planning and responsible business initiatives. With a dedicated Apprentice Mentorship Scheme, adi also ensures each apprentice is supported in the technical aspects of the job as well as from a personal development perspective.
Proving its status as a pioneer in the industry, adi launched the UK’s first pre-apprenticeship scheme in 2016, which offers students from years 10 and 11 the opportunity to join a two-year programme that takes up 10% of the students’ GCSE curriculum time. Earning students a formal EAL accreditation, the scheme allows students to move into any apprenticeship after its completion, fast-tracking their career.
The programme was officially recognised for its potential, vision and positive impact on the industry, winning the Insider Made in the Midlands’ Manufacturing Apprenticeship/Training Scheme Award in 2021, as well as the IChemE Global Awards in 2023. The firm carefully designs its ‘earn and learn’ opportunities drawing on its market-leading expertise, ensuring it provides a comprehensive experience capable of shaping well-rounded engineering professionals.
