A SOCIAL housing group has been named Employer of the Year at a ceremony recognising excellence in apprenticeships across the region.

Vela Group UK won the accolade at the North East Chamber of Commerce (NECC) Training Celebration Awards 2012, for its outstanding contribution to the NECC apprenticeship programme over the past year.

The awards, now in their fourth year, were held at the Stadium of Light, Sunderland, and recognise the efforts both of NECC learners and employers across the region. They include categories for apprentices across a number of business disciplines.

Vela Group’s commitment to providing more than 20 young people with employment opportunities saw them win the main award ahead of fellow social housing organisation the Home Group and Piramal Healthcare UK Ltd.

The Tees Valley -based firm has more than 17,000 properties in its portfolio and employs about 700 people at bases in Hartlepool and Stockton.

In addition, Vela has also been working with NECC to deliver the Provision for the Unemployed programme for a number of its tenants in the region, helping them to achieve a number of qualifications, most recently in contact centre operations, and significantly boost their employment prospects.

James Ramsbotham, NECC chief executive, said: “Vela Group epitomises the importance that our business community places on the apprenticeship programme.

“They have demonstrated a genuine desire to support the personal development of their workforce and NECC is delighted to name them our Employer of the Year.”

The event was also an occasion to recognise NECC’s young apprentices.

In an expansion of the awards programme this year, NECC announced both an overall learner and an employer’s choice learner of the year.

Emma Bennison, laboratory technician apprentice at Newcastle University’s Institute for Ageing and Health, was named the Learner of the Year.

Adam Nicholson, built environment apprentice for Newton Aycliffe -based European Roofing Systems Limited, won the Employer’s Choice Learner of the Year Award.

“Both Emma and Adam have exemplified the talent that our region’s apprentices posses and I would like to congratulate them on their outstanding achievements,”

said Mr Ramsbotham.

The awards ceremony also welcomed one of the region’s most successful young entrepreneurs and former apprentice, Darren Williams, as the guest speaker.

Mr Williams told of his journey from young IT apprentice to pioneer behind one of the leading online retailers of hair products and accessories in the UK.