Wiltshire-based CentraHeat has received recognition for its commitment to apprentices, appearing in the Centrica Top 100 Apprenticeship Employer list, which is compiled annually by the National Apprenticeship Service and recognises excellence in businesses that employ apprentices.

The list was announced at the National Apprenticeship Awards, which took place on 20 January at the Grosvenor House Hotel in London.

The list showcases the breadth of employers who now offer apprenticeships. CentraHeat was set up in 2011 and has grown from a sole trader to a limited company with 11 employees. This growth has been supported and sustained by apprenticeships; of the seven engineers, three were taken on as apprentices.

“To be in the Top 100 list is a real honour, and an endorsement of our strategy of employing apprentices. I trained as an apprentice, so could see the value in nurturing home-grown talent,” said CentraHeat founder and managing director Lee Flanagan.

“Employing apprentices has enabled the company to grow with minimal external investment. Our apprentices are trained to our high standards and are great ambassadors. Indeed, the programme’s success has given us the confidence to keep to our growth plans.”