Hairdresser crowned region’s top apprentice

A YOUNG hairdresser who aspires to open his own salon has been crowned the region’s top apprentice.

Luke Jennings picked up the 2010 West Midlands Apprentice of the Year award and will now do battle with regional winners from across the country at the national ceremony next month.

The 16 year old trained at Reflections Training Academy and now works at Burlingtons New ID, in Birmingham city centre.

Also picking up an award was Doosan Babcock Energy, from Tipton, which has taken on 90 apprentices in the past year, estimated to be around a fifth of all apprentices joining the engineering construction sector nationally.

The awards ceremony, which is organised by the National Apprenticeship Service, was held at Birmingham’s Hippodrome theatre and hosted by BBC TV presenter Suzanne Virdee.

NAS regional director Stephen Lilley said: “All the winners are fantastic examples of the value of apprenticeships to individuals, employers and the region. They all deserve enormous credit for their achievements.”

The National Apprenticeship Service is responsible for apprenticeships in England and strives to increase the number of them in businesses.

Luke will find out on July 15 in London if he is the best Young Apprentice in the country.

The West Midlands winners in full:

Young Apprentice of the Year
Luke Jennings, of hairdresser Burlingtons New ID in Birmingham

Apprentice of the Year
Sculptor and metalworker Jak Forester, of PM Training in Stoke

Advanced Apprentice of the Year
Hayley Farr, of C&S Care Services in Wolverhampton

Micro Employer of the Year
Hairdressing salon Andrea Beers in Kidderminster

Small Employer of the Year
Royal Air Force Museum, Shifnal

Large Employer of the Year
Doosan Babcock Energy in Tipton

Macro Employer of the Year
Telford and Wrekin Council

Picture: West Midlands Apprentice of the Year Luke Jennings with awards host BBC news presenter Suzanne Virdee