A TALENTED North-East bricklaying apprentice has paved his way to the top after claiming a national award in recognition of his hard work.

Daniel O’Leary, 19, who is from Normanby, Middlesbrough, won the inaugural ‘Rising Star’ award in ‘The Bricks’ Local Authority Building Control (LABC) Warranty Awards 2014 in London’s West End.

‘The Bricks’ gives national recognition and reward for building sites that achieve excellence in construction, with the ‘Rising Star’ award category acknowledging the hard work and dedication of individuals involved in development projects.

Daniel, who works for construction and development specialist Southdale said: “It has been a fantastic year for me and I am grateful to be in this position. I thoroughly enjoy my apprenticeship and I aim to keep on learning, which will allow me to progress further in the construction industry.”

Beverley Robinson, Human Resources Director at Southdale, said: “We’re hugely proud of Daniel, who has excelled since joining the company. He’s a credit to Southdale and this latest accreditation is fully deserved. It has been an excellent year for Daniel and he has a bright future ahead of him.”