Triple awards success for Burnley apprentice

By We Love Creative

02 Jul 2013

A Burnley business is enjoying triple award recognition for its dedication to young employees.

The Connect Technology Group scooped the Young Employee of the Year at the recent Burnley Business Awards, was highly commended at the same awards in the Apprenticeship Scheme of the Year category.

And, the business, which is based in the Burnley Business Centre, Liverpool Road, has since learned it has reached the next level in the prestigious National Apprenticeship Awards.

Connect Technology, based in the Burnley Business Centre, Liverpool Road, currently has three apprentices and three more members of the 22-strong team started as apprentices with the firm.

One of those apprentices is John Lord, who was thrilled to receive the Young Employee of the Year trophy at last week’s Burnley awards celebrations, as well as learning that his nomination in the national awards had gone through to the regional judging panel.

Currently undertaking an IT apprenticeship with Burnley College within its Cisco networking academy, John works on both Connect’s internal systems as well as applications developed specially for customers.

CEO Chris Reid, a former apprentice himself, said: “Our whole team is celebrating John’s successes as an individual, as well as the overall successes which apprentices have brought to the company.

“John has been a fantastic addition to our team ever since he began. One of the IT projects he helped with saved us £20,000 in development fees, and that’s on top of the day-to-day tasks he undertakes. His personal and professional development in the relatively short time that we have known him has been incredible.”

Chris has a first-hand understanding what value apprentices can bring to a company and how apprenticeships can play an important role in the life of the individual, even though his own experiences weren’t entirely positive.

Ever since it has been his intention that when he became an employer, he would not only seek to recruit apprentices, but to also give them meaningful work that benefited both them and the company.

Chris said: “I always say that I don’t want our apprentices to leave when they are finished with us - but if they do, then I at least want them to be better at their jobs than when they arrived.

“In fact, we care so much about our apprentices that they don’t actually leave. Most stay with us and take on full-time roles. From top to bottom, we are concerned with personal development and, on a personal note, I am determined to give my apprentices a better experience than my own. In return, we are given dedicated individuals who become integral members of our team.” Should John successfully reach the regional finals, he will be invited to attend an awards ceremony which will be held in September.

Latest news

1

College restaurant honoured with top culinary award from prestigious chefs’ guild Karen Lilley Front Of House Lecturer David McKown David Lyon Scholars Manager And Blackburn College Principal Dr Fazal Dad

College restaurant honoured with top culinary award from prestigious chefs’ guild

10 Jun 2025

2

Cosmetic manufacturer lets new unit on Frontier Park, Burnley Badgequo have agreed to let the site on Frontier Park

Cosmetic manufacturer lets new unit on Frontier Park, Burnley

10 Jun 2025

3

SQ Digital celebrates 25 years and enters new era with CEO appointment Kamal Essa

SQ Digital celebrates 25 years and enters new era with CEO appointment

09 Jun 2025

4

New chair appointed to Atlas BFW Management Graham Cowley

New chair appointed to Atlas BFW Management

09 Jun 2025

5

Napthens makes key appointments to further growth strategy of newly appointed managing director Napthens appointments Jayna Mistry, Onyeka-Obedi and Rebecca Rhodes

Napthens makes key appointments to further growth strategy of newly appointed managing director

09 Jun 2025

Background image for hub sign up block

LBV Hub

Leverage Lancashire Business View platforms

Post your news
Post your events
Post your offers
Build your network
Improve your SEO
Gain coverage in the magazine
Sign-up
Events
Sub36 Networking
Sub36 Social1200pxandi Lewis
Networking
11 Jun 2025

Sub36 Networking

Mytton Fold Hotel , Blackburn , BB6 8AB

09:30 - 11:00

Lancashire Net Zero Carbon Conference
Net Zero Carbon Social 1200pxtrident 2
Networking
18 Jun 2025

Lancashire Net Zero Carbon Conference

Crow Wood Hotel & Spa Resort, Burnley, BB12 0RT

08:30 - 13:00

LBV123 July/August Launch Event
Lancashire Business View magazine launch
Networking
16 Jul 2025

LBV123 July/August Launch Event

Burnley College Industry Hub, Burnley, BB120AN

08:30 - 10:30

Lancashire Built Environment Conference 2025
BEC 315 X 315 Px
Networking
25 Sep 2025

Lancashire Built Environment Conference 2025

Blackpool Football Club, Blackpool, FY1 6HX

08:30 - 13:00

CMI Level 5 Management and Leadership Course
UCLanAerialCampus.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
21 Feb 2025 - 21 Feb 2026

CMI Level 5 Management and Leadership Course

Preston Campus, Preston , PR1 2HE

09:00 - 17:00

CMI Level 5 Project Management Course
UCLanAerialCampus.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
21 Feb 2025 - 21 Feb 2026

CMI Level 5 Project Management Course

Preston Campus, Preston, PR1 2HE

08:00 - 17:00

RISE - The Academy for Female Leaders and Managers
WENDY BOWERS RISE Illustrstion copy.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
02 Apr 2025 - 08 Oct 2025

RISE - The Academy for Female Leaders and Managers

East Lancashire Chamber of Commerce, Clayton le Moors, BB5 5JR

09:00 - 15:30

The Business Network Central & East Lancashire
LBV Hub Networking
12 Jun 2025 - 12 Jun 2025

The Business Network Central & East Lancashire

Stanley House, Blackburn, BB2 7NP

11:30 - 14:15

Preston Freelancer Meet-Up
LBV Hub Networking
12 Jun 2025 - 12 Jun 2025

Preston Freelancer Meet-Up

Society1, Coworking Space, Preston, PR1 3LT

10:00 - 11:30

Midnight Oil: The Entrepreneur’s Journey: Scaling Strategies with Brad Waldron
BU-June-Event-BRAD-1.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Networking
18 Jun 2025 - 18 Jun 2025

Midnight Oil: The Entrepreneur’s Journey: Scaling Strategies with Brad Waldron

Blackpool Football Club, Bloomfield Rd, Seasiders Way, Blackpool, FY1 6JJ

08:30 - 11:30

Chamber Business Lunch – June
Chamber Logo1.png.png
LBV Hub Networking
20 Jun 2025 - 20 Jun 2025

Chamber Business Lunch – June

Lancaster House Hotel, Bailrigg, Lancaster, LA1 4GL

11:00 - 13:30

90 day Business Planning Workshop
LBV Event Header.png.png
LBV Hub Seminars
20 Jun 2025 - 20 Jun 2025

90 day Business Planning Workshop

Bolton Arena, Arena Approach, Horwich, BL6 6LB

09:00 - 16:30

Advertise with us

Reaching 50,000 members, our print, digital and event platforms offer a fantastic way to raise your business profile and help you grow.

Find out more LBV122 Online Graphic
Subscribe now

Weekly news bulletin