THE cream of Hampshire County Council’s apprentices and trainees, as well as the staff who support them, took centre stage in Winchester when the Great Hall hosted the authority’s fourth annual Apprenticeship Awards.

Award categories at the showpiece event included Team of the Year, Mentorship and a special Chairman’s Award, as well as awards for different levels of apprenticeship.

Taking the award for Higher Apprentice of the Year 2018 was Four Marks resident Joshua Saunders, an apprentice building surveyor who works in the culture, communities and business services department in Winchester.

Commenting on Joshua’s success, Matt Symonds, senior building surveyor, said: “Joshua is an example of what an apprentice should be and others can learn from this.

“Being aware of the time and effort put into his training by colleagues, he shows that he wants to be a greater asset to Property Services than he already is.

Mr Symonds added: “Joshua has benefited from the apprenticeship: he is sociable, has gained in confidence and happily contributes to discussions, ensuring compliance with current legalisation within the construction industry.

“He helps colleagues and, in a positive way, challenges senior colleagues to lead by example.

“Joshua champions apprenticeships, helping to raise their profile by contributing and getting involved in County Council publicity.”

Keith Mans, the county council’s deputy leader and executive lead member for children’s services, said: “All our nominees have been put forward by their colleagues who want them to be recognised for their hard work and commitment to excellence.

“Reading through the nomination papers, it strikes me that we are extremely lucky to have such a strong cohort of talented and dedicated apprentices working for Hampshire, and managers and mentors who make the effort to bring the best out of them.”