[gallery ids="3105,3106"] Sixteen apprentices received awards from the Principal of the College, David Pomfret as part an apprenticeship awards celebration event which recognised the best of CWA’s apprentices across a range of different subject areas. The awards were held during national Apprenticeship Week as well as a number of ‘back to the floor’ experiences for college managers. Mr Pomfret said the college was committed to delivering a wide range of high-quality apprenticeship programmes, which have seen CWA apprentices win several awards, including medals at the Worldskills completion last year.  He said the winners could be really proud of their achievements and were a credit to their employers and key to the success of the local economy. He went on to say: “I am passionate about the value of apprenticeships to both the apprentice and the employer”. Mr Pomfret also congratulated employers who attended and thanked them for their support and their success in the last year. For the fifth year running CWA’s employers have been successful in the regional heats of the National Apprenticeship Awards - Top to Toe of Wisbech received highly commended small employer 2014 East of England. The winning apprentices are employed across a wide area and cover numerous occupations. These include electrotechnical; brickwork; childcare; administration; IT; motor vehicle; hospitality; engineering; plumbing; teaching assistant; warehouse and retail; lab technician; hairdressing; carpentry; health and social care; team leader and management; customer service and cultural operations and horticulture. One fine example was that of Apprentice hairdresser Ashleigh Everett who is employed by Boldero & Filby in King’s Lynn- Ashleigh has all the attributes to become not only a talented hairdresser but also a future business owner or manager. She is extremely proactive in her skills development and uses every available resource including social media, and magazines to get both inspirations for her next creation and to find the model she needs to bring it to fruition. Ashleigh has impeccable manners and is a consummate professional. Her dedication and passion for hairdressing are clear for all to see. Ashleigh has won the college intermediate apprenticeship hairdressing competition; she will now start putting together her entries for the Hairdressing Council completion and World Skills 2015.  This will involve Ashleigh creating an image; this will be photographed and sent away for judging.  If she is successful the finals will take place in May at the L’Oreal Studios in London.  The prize for the Hairdressing Council competition includes a trophy, a day with Andrew Barton at his salon and a business lunch with the L’Oreal Colour Trophy winner Sophia Hilton and lunch at the House of Commons. Ashleigh’s award was sponsored by Top to Toe in Wisbech and was presented by business owner Paul Davies.