College students from Chester were honoured at a special ceremony at the city’s Guildhall.
West Cheshire College’s annual Freemen and Guilds Award ceremony, held at the historic Guildhall in Chester, recognised the hard work and achievements of a total of 15 students.
Christopher Thompson, 20, of Chester, completed an engineering apprenticeship with leading drinks can manufacturer Ball Packaging and was awarded the Cooper Company Award.
He said: “I really enjoyed the apprenticeship. I like being in a working environment gaining experience but also learning and earning a qualification at the same time.
“I’m glad that I chose an apprenticeship rather than going to university. Next year I hope to progress to my HNC Engineering Level 5.”
Sam Pickering, 18, of Chester, completed a two year plumbing apprenticeship with Colin Pickering and Son and won the Smiths, Cutlers and Plumbers Award.
He said: “I have become much more independent and really enjoy being part of a company.
“I hope to complete my training and then move to Australia to begin working as a plumber.”
West Cheshire College principal and chief executive Nigel Davies, who presented the awards, said: “Here at the college, we are exceptionally proud of our long standing partnership with the Freemen and Guilds Awards.
“All the winners have worked extremely hard and have been selected out of thousands of students. They are all very inspirational and should be proud of their achievements. I would like to congratulate each and every one of them on their success.”
The annual awards, founded in 1968, represent the historic link between education and the 23 companies of the city’s Freemen and Guilds which support the recruitment and training of apprentices within their trades.
