A FORMER Hartford college student is singing the praises of apprenticeships after scooping a national award.

Emilia Hoyle, from Manley, won the Lloyds Banking Group Award for Rising Star of the Year in the National Apprenticeship Awards 2019, having triumphed at the regional heats earlier this year.

The 23-year-old, who studied a Level 4 NVQ in business administration apprenticeship at Mid Cheshire College while working in the marketing department at Heat Trace Limited, is thrilled with her award and keen to encourage others to consider the same option.

The former Helsby High School pupil said: “I am delighted to be crowned the winner of the Lloyds Banking Group Award for Rising Star of the Year at the National Apprenticeship Awards 2019.

“It is great that my achievements have been recognised at a national level.

“I am very grateful to have been given this opportunity and for all the help and support from my colleagues at Heat Trace.

“I would like to thank everyone that voted for me in the public vote. This award is the icing on the cake.”

During her time with the Stockport-based company, Emilia has worked her way up to the role of marketing manager and is now finalising her chartered management degree apprenticeship at the University of Chester.

“I think apprenticeships are an amazing way to enter the working world. The combination of learning while gaining work experience is incredible.”

Emilia Hoyle

Outside of her day job, Emilia is vice-chair of the North West Young Apprentice Ambassador Network and enthusiastically promotes her company’s apprenticeship scheme, seeking out opportunities to promote apprenticeships in schools.

She added: “I think apprenticeships are an amazing way to enter the working world. The combination of learning while gaining work experience is incredible.

“I’ve worked my way up from being a marketing apprentice, to assistant and now I’m a marketing manager, studying for a degree.

“It’s been a fantastic opportunity and I would recommend it to anyone who is thinking of going down the apprenticeship route.”

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