In an award winning start to 2019, Cornwall Marine Network (CMN) apprenticeship recruitment subsidiary, the Cornwall Apprenticeship Agency (CAA), has been awarded Best Apprenticeship Agency at the UK Southern Business Awards 2018. The Award recognises the key players and enterprises within the UK Business scene and CAA was acknowledged for its ‘unique and flexible approach to recruiting and training apprentices in small businesses in Cornwall’.
CMN has also been shortlisted in the South West finals of the Federation of Small Business Awards’ as Community Business of the Year. CMN is one of only four category finalists in the South West and winners will be automatically entered into the national awards later this year.
CMN employees, Steve Roberts and Frankie Rigolli have been nominated for a Customers at the Heart Award for their work delivering the Positive People Project, which offers a lifeline to people who are not in work to help build confidence, skills and give a sense of hope for the future by linking them with support to build their confidence and engage with businesses.
CMN CEO, Paul Wickes MBE, said: ‘I am delighted the Cornwall Apprenticeship Agency has been recognised as the best in the South West and this very much reflects the ethos throughout the whole CMN team which is delivering excellent standards of customer service and always ensuring our customers are at the heart of everything we do’.
Reflecting on the nominations for community awards, Paul said: ‘In addition to helping Cornwall Marine businesses to grow, the team at CMN are also ensuring we help create a sense of community in a number of keys ports and marine cluster locations across the County. During a recent inspection into CMN’s standards of support and guidance to unemployed people, the lead inspector noted – CMN has created a place where business and opportunities come together – so we are all very proud to be recognised through these awards and I am hugely grateful to the team at CMN for their hard work, continued success and for bringing marine businesses and local communities together. This is a great start to 2019’.
