Hannah Douglas, an apprentice joiner with Clackmannanshire Council has been named Apprentice of the Year.

The award was made last month as part of the APSE Scottish Housing and Building Seminar at Peebles Hydro.

Congratulations also go to Darren Hammond, who was a finalist in the prestigious event.

While many of the Council's apprentices have been finalists at this event over the years, this is the first time that one has won the overall award.

Hannah (17) is now in her second year as an apprentice joiner having began her apprenticeship in August 2008. She was named winner of the 1st year category and also the overall winner for the 1st & 2nd year category for the whole of Scotland.

A former pupil of Alloa Academy, Hannah currently attends Forth Valley College's Clackmannan Campus as part of her apprenticeship and is doing her SVQ Level 3 in Carpentry and Joinery.

Hannah, who lives in Alloa with her parents Lorraine and Brian, was inspired to become a joiner by her grandad. She particularly enjoyed Art and Craft and Design at school. Away from work Hannah is a Flight Sergeant in the Air Training Corps.

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Darren (20) from Causewayhead was a finalist in the 3rd year category at the event. He was highly praised by the judges and presented with a trophy. Darren was also a finalist two years ago.

Darren is now in his 4th year and has achieved his SVQ Level 3 in Carpentry and Joinery and his Advanced Craft Certificate and will now sit his Construction Skills Test before completing his apprenticeship.

The Apprentice of the Year Awards receives a higher number of entries every year with the standard of submissions also rising annually. This year 24 entrants were invited to attend the Peebles event as finalists.

Clackmannanshire Council's Training and Learning Centre worked with Hannah and Darren to produce a comprehensive portfolio which was presented to APSE's scrutiny panel.

Darren and Hannah were then visited in the workplace and interviewed 'on the job' by a representative of the main sponsor, Hays Montrose. They were chosen as two of the finalists and were interviewed again by the scrutiny panel at the seminar in Peebles.

Both Darren and Hannah's parents attended the award ceremony.

Councillor Eddie Carrick said: "All Scottish local authorities can enter these Awards, which recognise the achievements of our apprentice tradesmen and women. With so much competition, it says a lot for Clackmannanshire Council to have two in the final and an overall winner.

"The Council invests in our apprentices by providing them with first class training, with the support of the Clackmannanshire Training and Learning Centre.

"Both Hannah and Darren are a credit to the Council and I wish them well in their future careers."

The Council's Property Contracts Unit currently employs 12 apprentices who are training to be plasterers, joiners, plumbers and electricians.

(GK)