A BRANDING and design agency from Pershore has picked up a major award for its work with apprentices.

Blue Moon Creative, which is based in High Street, took the DHL Express small employer of the year 2014 category in the National Apprenticeship Awards at Birmingham’s LG Arena. The Awards, now in their eleventh year, recognise businesses that grow their own talent with apprentices and apprentices who have made a significant contribution to their workplaces.

Blue Moon was chosen for its commitment to developing young people through apprenticeships.

Managing director Michael Taite said: “Apprentices have transformed our business, in a low risk way, into one which clients we want are more ready to talk to us, and people we might want to hire are queuing up. They have brought a fresh new dynamic into the company, making a big impression on clients and prompting us to review our approach to our processes, target markets and even the future of our business. Our apprentices have all been extraordinarily quick to learn and the great strides they have achieved over a year are possible thanks to their skills on joining, their hard work and our support.”

After coming under new ownership in 2012, the agency was keen to increase the strength of its team and decided to adopt a “grow your own” approach by taking on three apprentices. Being half the workforce, these apprentices became an integral part of the business within days and have helped grow the business, while receiving significant developmental support from the company. All three original apprentices were retained, another one has since been hired and another one is soon to be hired.

The awards ceremony, held during The Skills Show, the nation’s largest skills and careers event, also saw Blue Moon Creative named in the Top 100 Apprenticeship Employers list, which is compiled annually by the National Apprenticeship Service in partnership with City & Guilds to recognise excellence in businesses that employ apprentices.