THE search has been launched to find the country’s top apprentices and apprenticeship employers.

The 2015 National Apprenticeship Awards, run by the National Apprenticeship Service, are now open for entries until May 22. The competition challenges top apprenticeship employers and apprentices across England to come forward and show how apprenticeships have made a real difference to their organisation and careers. They will compete to be named "the best of the best" on a regional and national level.

Last year’s winners included creative agency Blue Moon Creative of High Street, Pershore, which was named small employer of the year in the national finals, having earlier won the West Midlands regional final.

Michael Taite, Managing Director Blue Moon Creative said: “Our whole experience of apprenticeships has been very positive. We took on four apprentices and retained all of them when they qualified. Apprenticeships have been central to the on-going transformation of our business and our ability to do so without taking on debt. This has given our business – and, thus the jobs of our former apprentices – significantly greater security.”

The awards, which have 10 categories, are now in their 12th year and recognise businesses that grow their own talent with apprenticeships and apprentices who have made a significant contribution to their workplaces.

The 2015 list will be announced at the National Apprenticeship Awards ceremony in January 2016. To find out more about this year’s awards and for information on how to enter, search National Apprenticeship Awards on gov.uk. A local workshop is being held in Birmingham on Thursday, April 2 to help employers with their applications. Visit http://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/birmingham-national-apprenticeship-awards-information-workshop-tickets-16098642473