Young apprentices and the firms that support them were honoured at a Wiltshire College awards evening.

The college’s third Apprentices Awards recognised the dedication of apprentices who combine studies with their job. It also marked the launch of the 100 in 100 campaign, a bid by the college’s business arm, Wiltshire Enterprise, to recruit 100 new apprentices in 100 days.

The campaign is being backed by the Gazette & Herald and Wiltshire Times.

Guest of honour Duncan Hames, MP for Chippenham and Melksham, said he was so impressed with the campaign last year, he took on his own apprentice.

“It was a campaign that you couldn’t ignore,” he said. “Because of all the publicity, I began to look into it in greater detail. Eventually I saw the benefits and signed up my own apprentice.”

A total of 25 awards for apprentices in a variety of fields were awarded, plus three for employers. The overall winner on the night was 22-year-old Nathan Reeves of Grittleton, near Chippenham, for his work at TH White in Marlborough.

He began as an apprentice three years ago and is now a trained agricultural engineer. His training has seen him repairing and servicing tractors and other agricultural machinery.

“It has been great to get the experience,” he said. “I have learnt a lot from the people I’ve been working with.”

Among the employers to be honoured was accountancy firm Riverview Portfolio.

Wiltshire Enterprise director Tim Keighley said: “The firm took on our 100th apprentice right at the end of last year’s 100 in 100 campaign,” he said. “Now it has already taken on another apprentice, it has been fantastic.”

Vice-principal Bev Flanagan told the winners: “We are very proud of you and the way you have worked so hard. You all deserve great credit.”

The winners: Accounting, Andrew Rivett, Chapel Associates; Agriculture, Bobby Alderson, Great Farm; Agricultural Engineering, Nathan Reeves, T H White Ltd; Brickwork, Craig Neate, DMJ Construction Wessex Ltd; Business Admin, Melissa Chilcott, Mere Dental Practice; Carpentry and Joinery, Alex Lapham, Graham & Kimber Ltd; Construction Plant Machinery Service Engineering, Steve Bowler, P Bowler & Sons; Creative and Cultural, Eleanor Bowden, Chippenham Museum & Heritage Centre; Customer Services, Leanne Newley, Co-Operative Group; Design, Anna Hawkins, Tablesir.com Ltd; Electrical, Luke Walker, A J K Services; Electrical Maintenance, Chris Burch, Cooper Tyres; Electronical Services Installation, Ross Towill, Integral; Hairdressing, Danielle Davies, Hair Like Silk; Horticulture, Kayleigh Marshall, Wiltshire College; IT, Kai Green, Zircon Software Ltd; Light Motor Vehicle, Adam Fisher, Rapid Recovery; Manufacturing, Ross Ellison, Broxton Industries Ltd; Mechanical Maintenance, Jake Honour, DS Smith Packaging; Painting and Decorating, Luke Nicklen, QinetiQ Ltd; Plumbing, Lewis Clarke, Renelec Group Ltd; Cookery, Craig Varley, Avenance; Technical Engineering, Richard Dyer, Global Design Solutions Ltd; Welding/ Fabrication, Dave Lancaster, Rotork Controls; Food Manufacture (Butchery), Michael Deacon, Whitehall Garden Centre. Large Business of the Year, Sulzer, Dowding and Mills; Medium Business of the Year, Riverview Portfolio; Small Business of the Year, Abernethy’s Hairdressing.