A MINING company has rewarded an apprentice for his hard work.

Cleveland Potash, based at Boulby, east Cleveland, gave 17-year-old Sam Slater a watch after he was named apprentice of the year and electrical learner of the year.

The teenager, from Brotton, also in east Cleveland, picked up the honours after impressing tutors on his electrical apprenticeship course at TTE Technical Training Group, in South Bank, near Middlesbrough.

Mike Smith, training manager, said: “I’m very proud of Sam and he represents the commitment and high standards we expect from all our apprentices.”