A YOUNG Trowbridge woman has fended off stiff competition from hundreds of entries to be shortlisted for a national apprenticeship award.

Megan Mounty, 22 is currently taking an apprenticeship in Wiltshire Council's highways department after joining in 2014 as personal assistant to the associate director for highways and transport, Parvis Khansari.

Within her role, Miss Mounty helps manage high level meetings on projects and is the main point of contact for all key projects within the department.

Just nine months into her apprenticeship she was made a permanent member of staff and she now combines her studies with gaining experience on the job.

It was her innovation of setting up an apprentice support group that got Miss Mounty recognised for the award after she successfully reached the regional finals of the National Apprenticeship Awards, and she will find out in November if she is through to the final stage.

She said: “I can’t quite believe it's real and I’m so pleased. It’s a great opportunity for both myself and Wiltshire Council as an organisation as it shows we give young people a chance and progression routes.

“I enjoy my work and as I assist in project managing, this allows me to be involved in all the changes, with all the information and knowledge and learning opportunities. I can be a part of all these things and give my opinion.”

Miss Mounty, who is currently embarking on her Level 3 business and administration apprenticeship, is just one of 31 apprentices at Wiltshire Council.

For more information, visit www.workwiltshire.co.uk/help/apprenticeships