Suffolk-based pubs and brewing group Greene King has been named Employer of the Year at the Apprenticeships4England Awards.

The event, now its third year, recognises organisations for commitment in developing their people through the use of apprenticeships and supporting their employees during training.

Since its launch in 2011, the Greene King apprenticeship scheme has helped more than 7,400 apprentices to achieve a qualification while working within the group’s pub, bar, restaurant and hotel outlets across the country.

The scheme offers bespoke qualifications which cover a range of hospitality roles, including front of house, kitchen and management, and are tailored to each of Bury St Edmunds-based Greene King retail brands.

Rooney Anand, chief executive at Greene King, said: “We are proud of our tradition of investing in our people, their skills and development, and we are grateful to Apprenticeships4England for recognising that commitment.

“Not only do our apprenticeships allow young people to earn while securing useful qualifications, they also play a crucial role in developing a skilled industry workforce.

“We’re so pleased to have offered more than 7,000 apprenticeships so far and are excited to welcome even more apprentices through our doors throughout 2016.”

This year’s awards took place at the Emirates Stadium in London, the home of Arsenal FC, alongside the Apprenticeships4England Conference.

Greene King, which now employs around 42,000 people following last year’s acquisition of the Spirit Pub Company, owns around 3,100 pubs, restaurants and hotels in England, Wales and Scotland.

Of these, around 1,900 are directly management retail outlets, including brands such as Hungry Horse, Old English Inns, Chef & Brewer and Flaming Grill, with the remaining 1,200 sites being tenanted, leased or managed.