By Chris Story

Last updated at 14:59, Friday, 15 June 2012

An alliance between Cumbria’s kings of the road and a leading training firm has been hailed as the best in its business.

Andrew Tinkler

System Training and Eddie Stobart beat fierce competition to be named winners of Apprenticeship of the Year – a new section at the Motor Transport Awards in London.

The Carlisle-based firms have joined forces to develop a training programme for a two-year apprenticeship at Eddie Stobart, giving them a taste of life in all aspects of the haulage industry.

The Motor Transport awards is the road transport industry event of the year and was attended by 1,600 of the industry’s most successful companies.

Both System and Stobart were delighted with the success. System Training chief executive Robin Brown said: “We’ve worked closely with Eddie Stobart to build a programme which combines high quality training and qualifications with essential mentoring and experience.

“Quality apprenticeships is a key route to the logistics industry for young people and an important way for the industry to help address the forecast driver shortage problem.”

Stobart Group chief executive Andrew Tinkler added: “With an overall ageing logistics industry, we see apprenticeships as a vital method of bringing highly-trained and motivated young people into our business.”

First published at 14:11, Friday, 15 June 2012
Published by http://www.cumberlandnews.co.uk