Building and maintenance services group Rok is celebrating the superb achievements of its younger employees.

In the Highlands of Scotland, where the company has more apprentices than all other building firms combined, a hat-trick of successes has been notched up by students of the construction school at Inverness College. Trainee quantity surveyor, Jason Bramley was named Chartered Institute of Building Highland Centre best overall HNC student; Marcus Finlayson was most outstanding student from Dingwall Further Education Centre and Jane Stafford collected the Plumbing SVQ Level 3 Award.

In addition, no fewer than 19 Rok employees graduated from the College, by far the most from any one employer and were presented with their qualifications by Charles Kennedy MP.

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Among them was carpenter Jemma Bartlett who last year reached the finals of Scotland's Apprentice Awards and come back with a runners-up trophy.

Last month, in a departure from tradition, Rok Scotland MD George Fraser announced that in place of the annual Rok apprentice awards ceremony, the company would be showcasing their skills in the community.

"We will use our skills to put something back into the community. It will also help our young men and women to feel really good about themselves through helping those disadvantaged or in need in this challenging financial climate," said George.

Already a number of volunteer apprentices have undertaken projects in the area including a team who went to the home of a terminally ill woman to refurbish it.

Billy Sweeney, of the Rok Training Academy , said: "It was a very successful start and we are about to begin another couple of jobs as we put together a programme of apprentice volunteer work over the next six months and beyond. It helps the apprentices use their skills and also develops their civic awareness."

(GK/JM)