Eight nursery groups have been recognised as outstanding apprenticeship employers in the government’s latest rankings.

Tops Day Nurseries, Busy Bees, Kids Planet, N Family Club and Kids Inc were named in the Department for Education’s Top 100 Apprenticeship Employers, which ranks organisations according to their commitment to creating new apprenticeships, the diversity of their apprentices, and the number of apprentices who successfully achieve their apprenticeships.

Beech Tree Childcare, Children’s Corner Childcare and HDC Nurseries, part of The Old Station Nursery Group, were recognised in the Top 50 SME Apprenticeship Employers, for small and medium sized businesses.

Tops Day Nurseries, which was listed as the 12^th best apprenticeship employer in the UK, was the highest ranked childcare provider in the list. Chief executive Sam King said: “Apprentices are really central to the way we see people’s careers progressing at Tops. We have apprentices at all ages and stages of their career.”

Busy Bees rose six places up the national rankings to 13^th. Anthony Bromirski, chief executive of Busy Bees Education and Training, said: “We believe working in the early years sector requires world-class professionals, which is why we are so committed to increasing our high-quality apprenticeship training at all levels.”

Sarah Steel, The Old Station Nursery chair, said: “We bought HDC Nurseries last summer because they offer excellent quality and we love the work they do with apprentices.  Their former apprentice co-ordinator, Hannah Fleming, is now working across the company, to drive best practice.”

Nick Squire, business director at Beech Tree Childcare, said: “Apprenticeships are such an asset not only to the business, but as an opportunity for young and old to gain true practical experience whilst earning and learning on the job. We are very clear with our apprentices that the work input creates career opportunities output, as a few of our early apprentices are now also doing education degrees and have progressed into management for the business at our second setting.”