A HEALTHCARE assistant at Tiverton and District Hospital was highly commended at a regional apprentice awards ceremony.

Mandy Harper was successful in the Apprentice of the Year Awards run by Education + Training Skills (ETS), a specialist provider of work-based learning across the South West.

She was highly commended in the personal achievement category at the ceremony at Buckerell Lodge in Exeter.

The awards tied in with National Apprenticeship Week, which celebrates apprenticeships and the positive impact they have on individuals and employers.

Simon Mills, business development manager for Education + Training Skills (ETS), said: “When I met Mandy at the sign-up day, she was nervous about commencing the programme.

“I have attended regular study days to conduct review meetings with this cohort, and I have witnessed Mandy’s development as an individual as she has progressed through the programme.

“Mandy has met the requirements of the Level 2 diploma in clinical healthcare support despite the difficulties she has faced and one of the things that has set her apart is the very positive attitude she has maintained throughout.”

Mandy’s employer, the Northern Devon Healthcare NHS Trust, was highly commended for the second year in a row at the same awards.

The Trust was successful in the Large Employer of the Year category.

The Trust works closely with local colleges and training providers and since 2008 has employed around 250 apprentices in healthcare assistant and business administration roles in Mid, East and North Devon.

Darryn Allcorn, director of workforce and development for the Trust, said: “We are very proud of Mandy for her individual achievements and were delighted to receive further recognition for our apprenticeship programme.

“Apprenticeships offer an excellent opportunity for individuals to gain on-the-job experience, develop skills and see how different departments work together in a large and complex organisation, and are an ideal launchpad for a career in the NHS.

“Our latest awards success reaffirms the benefits and opportunities these schemes can bring, and we are actively looking to further promote apprenticeships as part of our overall recruitment strategy.”