A TRAINING firm has honoured youngsters for their achievements.

TTE held an awards event to mark the successes of apprentices and trainees.

The winners included Sam Slater, 17, from Brotton, east Cleveland, who received the learner of the year title.

Bosses say Sam, an electrical apprentice, was a worthy winner thanks to his charity fundraising and help given to TTE staff at its training centre in South Bank, Middlesbrough.

Other awards went to Ryan Smith, 19, from Billingham, near Stockton, who was named health and safety learner of the year.

The franchise instrumentation award was given to 20-year-old Ben Hepplewhite, of Ingleby Barwick, also near Stockton, who is working towards a BTEC level three subsidiary diploma in engineering.

Bosses gave the employer-led electrical and instrumentation award to Andrew Richardson and Sam Slater.

Charlie Sidgwick, 17, from Yarm, was named franchise electrical learner of the year, with 19-year-old Luke Powell, from Hartlepool, franchise mechanical learner of the year.

The employer-led mechanical award went to Cleveland Potash's Louis West, with Kingsley Beagle, 19, from Darlington, process learner of the year.

Steve Grant, TTE managing director, said: “All of the winners and nominees are a credit to themselves, their families and staff.

“The awards recognised their achievements, but also reminded employers there are committed and enthusiastic skilled young people that can add value to workforces.”