Aspire Training Team, a specialist early years apprenticeship training provider with training facilities based across the South West, has celebrated 25 years of training with a number of celebratory activities to mark the occasion, including partnering with fellow B Corp accredited company Ecologi to plant thickets of 25 trees on behalf of each its 150 + employer customers.

Aspire Training Team was founded by Cheryl Hadland in 1997 and started with just 3 apprentices, one of which is now the current Director of Audit and Quality for Aspire, Kelly Medley. Over the years Aspire has grown from the initial 3 learners to beyond 3,000 having now successfully achieved their apprenticeships.

Managing director, Cheryl Hadland, said: “When I started Aspire with 3 apprentices in one nursery, Tops Day Nurseries Parkstone, I did not imagine that 25 years later we would have around 350 learners every year.  We are very proud to be making such a huge contribution to early years education and care in our areas across the South West.

“Aspire has been described as world class and a Beacon for early years, and despite enormous financial difficulties in the sector nationally, continues to provide training for learners that equips them for working not only in day nurseries but across many sectors where great customers service, respect, and attention to detail in health and safety is required, as well as fantastic preparation for parenthood. 

“Aspire is one of the only B.Corp training providers in the country, and as such all decisions take into consideration the environment and social impacts and governance is transparent and ethical, as verified by B. Corp.  Deficiencies in government funding can cause financial worries for Aspire as its dependent on this either directly or via the levy on larger employers, but assuming the government funding does consider inflation, utilities and wage competition, Aspire is confident of a buoyant future where the focus can be on excellence of training within the early years sector.”

As part of their celebration activities the whole training team gathered face to face for the first time in a long time, due to Covid-19, and planted a tree in the communal garden at their head office to commemorate 25 years of training. They have also partnered with Ecologi, a company dedicated to ending the climate crisis by planting trees to keep our temperatures from rising above 1.5C. Aspire has planted 25 trees for every employer that works with them and pledges to plant 25 trees for all future employers that join them.