CONVENIENCE chain Bells Stores has been named as one of the country's top employers.

The North-East-based business has been nominated at the Learning and Skills Council's National Apprenticeship awards.

The company is competing for the award against companies including BMW and British Gas on the shortlist for the large company award at the event in London this week.

Bells' record of staff training has placed it ahead of almost 240 award entrants.

The company, which has 54 outlets across the region, with more than 1,000 employees, is now part of the Sainsbury's Group, and has a turnover of more than £70m.

The company plans to increase the number of stores to 80.

Chief executive Steven Bell, whose father set up the company in 1968, said training was crucial at a time of major expansion.

He said Bells had benefited commercially from training, with the apprenticeship scheme helping to make the company more profitable.

Bells offers staff 150 in-house courses a year in topics including security, customer service, sale of restricted products and management.

A dedicated training organisation at the company is run by Sheila Gibbin, a former clerical tutor who tailors courses to suit the company's needs.

Pam Eccles, executive director of Learning and Skills Council Tees Valley, said: "Apprenticeships offer a competitive advantage and are a tangible investment in the future of a business, as well as a mark of a quality employer with an accredited workforce."