Top apprentice prizes go to women

Women have scooped three out of the four top prizes at the Apprentice of the Year awards, it has emerged.

This is the first time that men have not taken the majority of the accolades and two of the awards went to women who have broken into the traditionally male-dominated sectors of aerospace and engineering, the Times Education Supplement reports.

Claire Harrison, who completed an apprenticeship in team leading at the North Lancs Training Group, took the top gong of Apprentice of the Year.

'My apprenticeship has made my confidence soar … with the skills and knowledge I gained, I have helped the packing department improve budgets and efficiencies,' she told the publication.

Ms Harrison now works for Dales Pharmaceuticals, where her leadership skills have seen absenteeism drop from 11% to 2%.

Government Ministers John Denham and David Lammy attended the awards, which were hosted by TV presenter Amanda Holden.

Earlier this week the Government announced new draft legislation, which is intended to ensure that all apprenticeships are of the same high quality.