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20 March 2023

Invotra Shares Inspiring Success Stories of Apprentices and Apprentice Graduates with Secretary of State for Work and Pensions and Local MP

Invotra, a leading UK intranet company, was pleased to host the Rt Hon Mel Stride, the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, and Jonathan Lord, Conservative MP for Woking, during their visit to the company’s headquarters yesterday.

During the visit, Invotra shared the incredible success stories of its many apprentices and apprentice graduates, including Billy Clackers, Managing Director of Invotra, and Nqobile Dube, Technical Director of Invotra, who were the first apprentices hired within the group.

Invotra has been recognised for its excellent record in developing apprentices. Since employing its first apprentices in 2011, Invotra has been able to overcome nationwide skills shortages, and has seen incredible success for the apprenticeship programme and apprentices themselves.

Today, 40% of Invotra’s Board members are qualified apprentices. Invotra was listed by the UK Government’s apprenticeship scheme as a ‘Top 100 Apprenticeship Employer of the Year’ for two years running and named the SME Employer of the Year at the National Apprenticeship Awards in 2019. A driving force behind Invotra’s successful apprenticeship programme, Alison Galvin MBE, Invotra’s Chief People Officer, was named as the regional winner of Apprentice Champion of the Year in 2020, given a “Lifetime Achievement” Award at the National Business Women’s Awards and in 2022, Galvin received an MBE for services to education in the field of apprenticeship development.

Secreatry of State, Rt Hon Mel Stride and Jonathan Lord MP in the Woking Office of Invotra, posing for a photo with Invotra staff

“We were delighted to welcome the Rt Hon Mel Stride and Jonathan Lord to Invotra to share the incredible success stories of our apprentices and apprentice graduates,” said Billy Clackers, Managing Director of Invotra. “Through our apprenticeship programs, we provide our apprentices with the skills and experience they need to build successful careers and contribute to our company’s growth and success.”

Nqobile Dube, Technical Director of Invotra, added: “As former apprentices ourselves, we understand the value of apprenticeships and how they can enable individuals to progress to senior positions within a company. We are committed to continuing to develop apprentices and providing them with opportunities to learn and grow.”

“I thoroughly enjoyed my visit with Jonathan Lord MP to Invotra, a company which has an impressive record on recruiting and retaining talented apprentices. Work-based training is a great option for people entering a new career, or considering a possible career change, and I would encourage those interested to look at DWP’s skills and work-based training programmes on GOV.UK to learn about the exciting opportunities open to them.”
The Rt Hon Mel Stride
Secretary of State for Work and Pensions
“Invotra’s apprenticeship programme, which has seen apprentices who joined 10 years ago rise to the top of senior management, is a fantastic example of the important and significant role that apprenticeships can have both for employees as well as employers.”
Jonathan Lord
MP for Woking

The visit to Invotra by the Rt Hon Mel Stride and Jonathan Lord MP, was an excellent opportunity for the organisation to share its experience and learnings of the apprenticeship programme, to showcase the benefits of apprenticeships and to highlight the many successes of Inv Group’s apprentices and apprentice graduates.

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