AS NATIONAL Apprenticeship Week got underway a Cirencester company has spoken of the benefits an apprenticeship can bring to a company.

Based on Love Lane Industrial Estate, Mizuna have helped businesses and young people aged 16 years and above find excellent training opportunities and nationally recognised qualifications.

Andy Waring, Mizuna director, said: "It's a great opportunity for young people and local business to integrate for the benefit of the Cotswolds.

"Most employers understand that taking on an apprentice means losing a valuable member of staff for day release to college.

"That’s a barrier for a lot of businesses in the current economic environment and one we can overcome. The apprentice fund can also be used to enhance the skills of current employees regardless of age."

Becky Gadd, owner of Crown Catering, also on Love Lane, said: "The Mizuna men have been fantastic in helping us recruit, train and support apprentices into our growing event catering business.

"They come in to our workplace to train up our staff to a very high standard with minimal impact on our business." Mizuna employs 120 staff in a range of disciplines and records success rates of more than 90 per cent in all subjects and industry sectors.

Over the past three years the company has trained more than 10,000 people in work based subjects from hospitality, professional cookery, passenger transport, aviation cabin crew, logistics, child care, IT and warehousing.

The company works with many local businesses including Cotswold Inns and Hotels, Relish, Ovo Energy, and Arkells Brewery and the Mizuna founded the Arkells Academy.

Jon Poulton, director of training, praised local employers for "embracing and seeing the light that talented young people can benefit from on the job within the workplace, at minimal cost to the employer".

For more information call Mizuna on 07970505841.