A TEAM of Worcestershire apprentices is aiming to be the best in England.

The Community Housing Group of Kidderminster has entered a team in the Brathay Apprentice Challenge, the search for the apprentice team of the year. It will face competition from around 80 other teams from across England in a series of regional heats, which will see apprentices undertake a variety of challenges including visiting schools and employers to talk about the benefits of apprenticeships and undertaking a project that will benefit the local community.

Sue Husband, director at the Skills Funding Agency, said: “The Brathay Apprentice Challenge attracts a wide range of organisations year on year and gives them a chance to develop the skills of their apprentices by pulling them out of their comfort zones. The skills that the apprentices learn not only benefit themselves, but also their organisations by creating a workforce that has excellent team building, logistical and communications abilities. These skills can be transferred to the workplace as well as helping apprentices reach the higher positions in an organisation.”

Godfrey Owen, chief executive, Brathay Trust, added: “It is always great to see the huge range of organisations registering to take part in the Challenge. We wish all of the teams luck in the regional heats and look forward to hearing about their activities.”

Following the regional heats, the top eight teams from across the country will go forward to the national finals, with the winners being revealed at Brathay Trust’s Windermere headquarters on July 8.