In the press: MP celebrates local business’ Princess Royal Training Award win

by Aug 21, 2019Alumni news

Antoinette Sandbach, MP for Eddisbury, is celebrating Barlows (UK) Ltd being awarded a Princess Royal Training Award.

The family-run business, based in Malpas, created a lasting impact by successfully linking their skills development needs to the company’s overall performance.

The electrical business puts training at the heart of its strategy with 95% of its staff having undertaken an apprenticeship.

The programme is embedded and integrated in the business and led passionately from the top-down, meaning that work is carried out in ‘the Barlows way’.

There is a 97% retention rate of employees and the business has grown solidly for the past 25 years, even during recession periods.

Read the full article on the So Cheshire website: https://www.so-cheshire.co.uk/mp-celebrates-local-business-princess-royal-training-award-win/

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