High performing apprentices from the College of West Anglia (CWA) were celebrated for their ambitious drive and impressive talent, last night. The College of West Anglia Apprenticeship Awards were held at the King’s Lynn Town Hall on Monday 14 March, 2016. The evening was compered by Mark Reavell, executive director of partnerships at CWA. A light canapé buffet - provided by CWA catering students - was served to guests on arrival and during the interval. In total 16 apprentices – a winner from each industry sector – received awards presented by Principal David Pomfret. Principal David Pomfret said: “It is great that we have been able to celebrate these awards during National Apprenticeship Week. To mark apprenticeship week, I have experienced the work of an apprentice first-hand, as I went back to the floor as a plumbing apprentice. Our apprentices are really valued in the workplace and I am proud to be celebrating the work they do at this event.” Guest speaker Paul Davis, creative director of Top to Toe Hairdressing & Beauty Salon in Wisbech, spoke of how apprenticeships have helped his business to thrive; explaining that he now employs at least three apprentices at any one time and hopes to expand his workforce to cater for more apprentices over the coming years. Mr Davis had his own award designed for the winner of the CWA Hairdressing Apprentice of the Year, which he presented personally to Eleanor Johnson of Snippits Hair Studio, Ely. John Clarke presented two awards – the Kevin Clarke Memorial Trophy for year one and year two – in memory of his son Kevin, a CWA electrical apprentice who sadly died in a car accident aged 19, in 1984. Mr Clarke said: "The town hall was a lovely setting for the apprenticeship awards to take place. My family and I always like to support the apprentices and both of the Kevin Clarke memorial trophy winners were very nice, deserving lads." Year 1 Kevin Clarke Memorial Trophy winner Joe Yaxley said: "I was very pleased to be nominated and was not expecting to win. It has been nice to celebrate tonight with my parents and employer, Kevin Doy." Jordan Rollins of Rollins Electrical, winner of the CWA Electrotechnical Apprentice of the year 2016 and the Year 2 Kevin Clarke Memorial Trophy, said: "It's nice to think that all my hard work is paying off. I would definitely recommend an apprenticeship to others as I've experienced so much more from learning on the job." The winners from the apprenticeship awards will now go forward to be further judged and be whittled down to three lucky finalists, who will then be invited to the college’s annual student awards on 29 June at the Alive King’s Lynn Corn Exchange, to find out who will be named as overall ‘Apprentice of the Year’. Full List of winners: Shane Denton Construction Apprentice of the Year 2016 Matthew Reed Retail Apprentice of the Year 2016 [caption id="attachment_6908" align="aligncenter" width="200"] Assessor Anne Hamilton accepted the award on behalf of Matthew Reed[/caption] Rebecca Hardy Information Technology Apprentice of the Year 2016 Jodie Hopkins-Duckhouse Childcare Apprentice of the Year 2016 Jordan Rollins Electrotechnical Apprentice of the Year 2016 Jake Seekings Engineering Apprentice of the Year 2016   Eleanor Johnson Hairdressing Apprentice of the Year 2016     Harry Barker Health & Social Care Apprentice of the Year 2016 Blue Revell Horticulture Apprentice of the Year 2016 Sadie Cooper Hospitality Apprentice of the Year 2016 Sema Ozbek Laboratory Technician Apprentice of Year 2016 Matthew Fay Motor Vehicle Apprentice of the Year 2016 Jack Bliss Plumbing Apprentice of the Year 2016 Lydia Hickey Teaching Assistant Apprentice of the Year 2016 Megan Nurse Business Administration Apprentice of the Year 2016 Joe Yaxley Kevin Clarke Award 2015/16