This summer Bath will be recognising the city's rising stars with the launch of the first Bath Chronicle Apprenticeship Awards.
To coincide with National Apprenticeship Week, The Bath Chronicle Apprenticeship Awards 2013 launch today with 11 awards up for grabs to businesses and young workers in the city who are involved in apprenticeship schemes.
Categories for businesses include Employer of the Year, separated into small, medium and large companies, an Apprenticeship Development Award and Bath Apprenticeship Training Provider of the Year.
For the apprentices there are five Outstanding Apprentice of the Year awards available covering different sectors, and a top accolade of Bath Apprentice of the Year.
Last year 1,200 apprentices started work in Bath and north east Somerset so competition is likely to be tough for these inaugural awards.
The Apprenticeship Awards 2013 are open to all industries including health, public services, education and care, construction, engineering and manufacturing, financial and business services.
The title sponsor for the awards is local hospitality training provider HIT Training Ltd.
HIT Training's West England operations manager, Mike Worley, said: "At HIT we take every opportunity to champion vocational qualifications nationally and locally, particularly within the hospitality industry.
"The Bath Chronicle Apprenticeship Awards fit in very much with our efforts to promote the take up of apprenticeships in the work place."
The winners for the Apprenticeship Awards 2013 will be announced at a gala awards evening to be held at Bath Racecourse on July 4.
The awards will be presented by executive director of the Bath Chamber of Commerce, Ian Bell, who will be joined by guest speaker BBC Apprentice finalist, Claire Young.
Editor of The Bath Chronicle, Lynne Fernquest, said: "Apprenticeships are a subject close to my heart and I am delighted we are able to reward excellence and effort in this way."
To enter the awards go to www.thisisbath.co.uk/ apprenticeshipawards.
The deadline for entries is May 11.
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