Mark, who trained under the guidance of Rutland County Council, went on to win the National Young Apprentice of the Year title. And in Market Rasen, James Lebreton was named the East Midlands Entry to Employment Learner of the Year. James was employed at Gainsborough Old Hall.

The hunt is now on to find this year's best Young Apprentice, Apprentice and e2e (Entry to Employment) students, plus the employers in Lincolnshire and Rutland which excel at enabling staff to learn while working. Also being sought is the school which has best embraced work-based learning for its pupils.

The prestigious awards scheme, now in its fourth year, is free to enter and has an entry deadline of Friday December 18 2009. All the finalists are given free tickets to a fantastic awards ceremony at The Lawn in Lincoln in March when the winners will be revealed.

The counties of Lincolnshire and Rutland have proved to be a great training ground for work-based learners, with many local finalists and winners going on to win East Midlands Apprenticeship Awards and some have gone all the way to the National Apprenticeship Awards held in London each summer.

Earlier this year the Uppingham Community College student and budding mechanic Mark Jefferson, who trained under the guidance of Rutland County Council, went on to win the National Young Apprentice of the Year title. And James Lebreton, of Market Rasen in Lincolnshire, was named the East Midlands Entry to Employment Learner of the Year. James was employed at Gainsborough Old Hall.

Local employers – businesses and the public sector such as local councils and the NHS – have also proved to be the best in the region. The City of Lincoln Council won an East Midlands employer award earlier this year.

Roy Harper, project manager of the Lincolnshire and Rutland Employment and Skills Board (LRESB), said: “The people who these awards acknowledge – many of them young and starting out into the world of work – deserve to have their achievements celebrated.

“Each year the awards uncover inspiring stories of individuals succeeding against the odds and often overcoming very significant obstacles. The ceremony itself is very uplifting for everyone involved, whether they win or not. Just to hear their stories told is very moving for the audience. I would urge anyone who has succeeded in work-based learning, or their friends and family, or employers or schools to nominate them for these awards.”

Roy Harper also said the recognition of being a finalist or winner of an employer award was a massive morale boost for each business. “Previous winners have all said that taking part in the Awards generated a great feel-good factor in their businesses and is a big help with raising their profile. They recommend taking part to any other businesses which are proud of what they have achieved with Apprentices and other work-based learning.

This year the Lincolnshire & Rutland Work Based Learning Awards is being organised by the LRESB in partnership with the National Apprentice Service (NAS) and the learning providers’ body, the Work Based Academy. The awards will be presented at a ceremony on March 25 2010 at The Lawn in Lincoln.

Geoff Middleton, of e-QAS Training, who is on the awards’ organising board, said: "This is an excellent opportunity to celebrate the huge achievements of local people, employers and work based learning providers - demonstrating the great opportunities that can be created through vocational pathways. Our area has an excellent track record regionally and nationally, punching well above our weight. ”

To find out more about entering the awards, contact HeadStorm Marketing on 0845 058 0490 or email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Notes: For media enquiries about the awards please call Andy Gilgrist on 01536 772256 or 07989 562517 or email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Photo caption: The 2008 Lincolnshire and Rutland Work Based Learning Awards winners

The winners of the 2008 Lincolnshire and Rutland Work Based Learning Awards were:

Young Apprentice of the Year Award
Winner: Louise Wood, of Grantham

Entry to Employment Learner of the Year Award
Winner: Sarah King, of Mablethorpe

Entry to Employment Personal Achiever of the Year Award
Winner: James Lebreton, of Market Rasen

Apprentice of the Year Award – Apprenticeship
Winner: Rebecca Burgess, of Waddington

Apprentice of the Year Award – Advanced Apprenticeship
Winner: Laura Pell, of Spalding

Apprentice Personal Achiever of the Year Award – 16-18 years old
Winner: Jolene Carter, of Fleet Hargate, Spalding

Apprentice Personal Achiever of the Year Award – Adult
Winner: Collette Steadman, of Sibsey

Employer of the Year Award – Entry to Employment
Winner: Ivor John Hallam Motor Engineering, Lincoln

Employer of the Year Award – Young Apprenticeship
Winner: BGB Innovation (Engineering Ltd), Grantham

Small Employer of the Year Award – Apprenticeship
Winner: GPC Industries, Spilsby

Large Employer of the Year Award – Apprenticeship
Winner: Gelder Group, Sturton by Stow

The School that has Embraced Work Related Learning Most Effectively Award
Winner: Casterton Business and Enterprise College

www.lincsrutlandesb.com www.workbasedacademy.org www.apprenticeships.org.uk