SME News Midlands Enterprise Awards 2025/ 26 Early Years Apprenticeship Provider of the Year 2025 - East Midlands Dedicated to realising its clients’ ambitious goals and aspirations, childcare training provider Riverside Training Spalding Ltd’s mission is to shape individuals' futures by providing hands-on industry experience, allowing for practical skill development while learning a qualification and a living wage. Operations Manager, Finlay Bulbeck, tells us more about the company and its people-centric approach as it gets rewarded for its diligence in the Midlands Enterprise Awards 2025. Riverside Training Spalding Ltd (RTS) is a specialist UK-based training provider delivering high-quality apprenticeships and qualifications in early years education and teaching support. Working closely with nurseries, pre-schools, schools, and early years professionals across the country, RTS delivers Ofsted-monitored training that blends flexibility, support, and high standards, in order to equip individuals with the tools needed to succeed and thrive in their chosen fields, fostering personal and professional growth for a successful future. With core values centred around integrity, individual growth, community impact, and continuous improvement, RTS ensures every learner is seen, supported, and empowered - whether they’re starting their first childcare role or developing into leadership. “We're committed to empowering individuals and we believe in raising standards in early education by investing in people,” Operations Manager, Finlay Bulbeck, tells us. “RTS is a people-first provider. Everything we do is centred on learner outcomes, not just qualifications on paper.” The company’s standout strength is personalisation and Finlay explains that learners are matched with specialist tutors who not only understand the qualification but also the pressures and demands of the early years sector. Learning journeys are uniquely tailored, provide real-time support, and ensure that both learner and employer are fully supported every step of the way. “Our move to Aptem and updated qualifications structure in 2025 has allowed us to streamline delivery and improve access, while still holding firm to quality,” Finlay continues. “In short: we're responsive, we listen, and we always put the learner first.” The early years sector is undergoing a significant transformation, driven by government funding shifts, curriculum reform, and a renewed national focus on early childhood education. In the Midlands, Finlay and the team at RTS are seeing increasing demand for Level 3 qualified practitioners as settings respond to Ofsted’s focus on intent, implementation, and impact in teaching. There is also a noted rise in career changers entering the early years field, especially through apprenticeships, which has made flexible learning pathways and supportive environments more critical than ever. Being based in the Midlands places RTS in the heart of the UK, logistically enabling it to support both urban and rural learners with ease. With a strong sense of community, particularly in early education, where partnerships between providers, settings, and local authorities are crucial, there’s a real appetite for home-grown talent development. “Our apprenticeships are a perfect fit for this,” Finlay states. “Our base allows us to respond quickly to local employer needs while still delivering nationally.” Internally, RTS thrives on collaboration, flexibility, and trust, with a culture centred around communication and compassion—whether that's between tutor and learner, or between staff teams. “We invest in ongoing CPD, weekly team updates via Microsoft Teams, and have clear expectations for learner contact and support. We also emphasise self-responsibility and innovation—our team are encouraged to bring fresh ideas and raise concerns early so we can keep improving.” It is thanks to its strength in early years specifically that RTS recently gained notable recognition in the Midlands Enterprise Awards 2025 coming away with the coveted title of Early Years Apprenticeship Provider of the Year 2025 - East Midlands. The future seems bright for the firm, with 2025 being a year of consolidation and innovation. Following significant structural changes, including the move to Aptem, the streamlining of its curriculum, and improvements on employer communications – RTS is focused on building stronger, longer-term partnerships with settings that value quality. Looking ahead, plans include expanding its Skills Bootcamp provision, offering entry points into early years roles; developing leadership and SEN pathways for current practitioners; and further increasing the utilisation of digital tools to boost learner engagement and accessibility. “We're not trying to be the biggest - we’re aiming to be the most trusted,” Finaly enthuses. “Quite simply: we specialise, we care, and we deliver!” Contact: Finlay Bulbeck Company: RTS (Riverside Training Spalding Ltd) Web Address: www.rts.training AIM-Jun25231
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