EE announces its nine strong team of apprentices set to compete in the National Brathay Challenge 2015

EE’s award winning Apprenticeship scheme has employed over 380 young people from the North East
Customer Service Apprentice Rachel Bell from Darlington to lead the team
EE apprentices to support St Teresa’s Hospice with fundraising activity

Hatfield, UK, 23-2-2015 — /EuropaWire/ — EE, the UK’s most advanced digital communications company, has announced its nine strong team of apprentices set to compete in the National Brathay Challenge 2015. The challenge will see the EE team demonstrate their team building, leadership, logistical and communication skills over the next few months before finding out if they’ve made it to the final in May.

EE was named as one of the North East’s Best Apprenticeship Employers in the regional final of the National Apprenticeship Awards 2014 and has recruited over 800 apprentices since its scheme launched.

The Brathay Challenge is supported by the National Apprenticeship Service and over 700 apprentices have entered into this year’s contest. Finalists will be announced in May before going on to compete in further awareness raising, and fundraising activity culminating in a logistical and teambuilding finale at Brathay Trust’s Windermere headquarters from 6th to 8th July.

Picked out for her strong leadership qualities superstar Customer Service Apprentice Rachel Bell, 23, from Darlington has been chosen as the team captain and to lead the charge to victory. Over the next few months her team will take on a series of work-related challenges and activities which will benefit the local community as well as educate young people on the advantages of Apprenticeships.

The team has collectively chosen to raise money for St Teresa’s Hospice which provides care and support for the local community. The Darlington site team has already donated 15 tablets to the hospice and is planning a host of fundraising activities over the coming months.

Rachel Bell, Customer Service Advisor Apprentice at EE said, “It’s such a fantastic opportunity to be involved in the challenge this year. We’re getting the chance to give back to the local community through our charity work and help young people in the North East learn more about the benefits of becoming an apprentice. We’re committed and passionate about what we do, and that’s why we think we’ve got a winning team that can really make a difference in the community.”

St Teresa’s Chief Executive, Jane Bradshaw said, “Everyone at the Hospice is thrilled EE has chosen us as their local Charity and that their apprentice team members have decided to support us in this very energetic way. We need the help of lots of people and organisations, in order to continue to provide free Home, Day and In Patient Care, and as we work towards our goal of adding a new, purpose-built In Patient Unit to our premises.”

Francoise Clemes, Chief of Customer Service at EE said, “We’re hugely proud of what our Apprentices have achieved since we set up the scheme, and we’re all cheering them on as they take to the national stage. We’ve got a team made up from across the business, all of whom bring their unique skill sets and personalities together to represent the EE brand on a national scale.

“Our Apprentices help to increase staff retention, open up EE’s future talent pipelines and support local communities like Darlington. We’re looking to recruit even more young people into our Apprenticeship scheme before the year is out.”

EE Brathay Challenge team 2015

Team captain, Rachel Bell, Customer Services – Darlington

Andrew Robinson, Customer Services – Darlington

Natalie Marshall, Customer Services – Darlington

Lewis Harrop, Customer Services – Darlington

Connor Ross, Customer Services – Darlington

Daniel Palmer, Customer Services – Darlington

Nathan Taylor, Brand and Marketing – London

Louise Gallagher, Brand and Marketing – London

Omar Sultan – Commercial Planning – London

For more information please visit:

http://jobs.ee.co.uk

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Notes to editors

EE’s Apprenticeship Programme is the winner of the BITC Inspiring Young Talent Award 2014

http://www.bitc.org.uk/our-resources/case-studies/ee-ee-apprenticeship-programme

To support the team and donate to St Teresa’s Hospice, simply enter the unique reference number on JustGiving.co.uk (SSTBC93), or text the amount you wish to donate to 70070.

For more information, please contact the EE press team on:

ee@nelsonbostock.com
0845 373 7070

About EE
EE is the largest and most advanced digital communications company in Britain, delivering mobile and fixed communications services to consumers, businesses, government and the wholesale market. EE has approximately 13,000 full time employees and 580 retail stores, and serves more than 30 million customers across its mobile, fixed and wholesale businesses.

EE runs the UK’s biggest, fastest and most reliable mobile network, pioneering the UK’s first superfast 4G mobile service in October 2012. EE’s 4G coverage today reaches more than 80% of the UK population. EE’s 2G coverage reaches 99% of the population while 3G reaches 98%. EE’s superfast fibre broadband service covers 54% of the UK population, and ADSL broadband service covers 98.7% of the population.

In the last few years, EE has received extensive independent recognition including being ranked the UK’s best overall network by RootMetrics®, Best network at the 2014 Mobile News Awards, Fastest Network at the 2013 uSwitch Awards, Best Network at the 2014 Mobile Choice Consumer Awards and What Mobile Awards 2013, Network Innovation at the 2013 Recombu awards and Best Network for Business at the 2013 Mobile Industry awards.

Facebook at: www.facebook.com/ee
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YouTube at: www.youtube.com/ee

Rankings based on RootMetrics® UK RootScore® Report for mobile performance as tested on best available plans and devices on 4 mobile networks across all available network types (Jul-Dec 2014). The RootMetrics award is not an endorsement of EE. Your results may vary. See rootmetrics.co.uk for more details.

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