BMRA and partner companies have won National Recycling Award for first sector-specific apprenticeship.

L-R: Chris Williams (Sims); Shane Mellor (Mellor Metals); Antonia Grey (BMRA); Susie Burrage (Recycled Products); Jane Fenwick (Sims). Not pictured: Chris Williams (EMR); Lorraine Allen (Norton); Claire Dallison (Recycling Lives).

The British Metals Recycling Association (BMRA) has been awarded Excellence in Learning and Development alongside ELG, EMR, Mellor Metals, Recycling Lives, Recycled Products, Sackers, Sims Metal Management, S. Norton, and Ward for the Metal Recycling General Operative (MRGO) level 2 apprenticeship.

Launched in November 2018 by Sir Gerry Berragan, CEO of the Institute for Apprenticeships, the MRGO is the industry’s first sector-specific apprenticeship and is unique as it allows participants to specialise in one of five bespoke areas: weighbridge; material classification; waste electrical and electronic equipment; material handler; or, end-of-life vehicles.

Antonia Grey, Public Affairs and Communications Manager for BMRA said: “It is a real honour to win this award because, as a group, we have delivered a complex apprenticeship that truly offers sector-specific learnings. With a strong focus on learning and development, the MRGO apprenticeship is unique because, alongside the vital core knowledge and skills required in metal recycling, it offers the option to specialise in a chosen area. This is highly unusual for a level 2 apprenticeship. Moreover, unlike many other related apprenticeships, the MRGO funding was rated at £9,000, exceeding many expectations.”

She added: “Through the apprenticeship, the partnership has engendered a greater sense of pride in the sector because it both recognises and underscores the complexities of the industry and the role it has in protecting the environment. Receiving an Award from our peers recognising the work done to develop the first sector-specific apprenticeship makes all the hard work worth even more.”

The National Recycling Awards Judging Panel 2019 said: "Excellence in Learning and Development - The judges said it is a big achievement to have got such a partnership to work together to deliver an apprenticeship scheme that is valued. It highlights the skills and knowledge needed by the people in this under recognised area."

Photos from the event are here. 

Buoyed by the success of the level 2 apprenticeship, The Working Group (BMRA, ELG, EMR, Mellor Metals, Recycling Lives, Recycled Products, Sackers, Sims Metal Management, S. Norton, and Ward) is now pursuing a level 4 apprenticeship.

Learn more about the apprenticeship here.

For further information, contact Antonia.