Apprentices helping to look after homes and public buildings across Manchester have been recognised for their work in an annual prize-giving ceremony organised by Manchester Working, a joint venture between national maintenance contractor Morrison Facilities Services and the city council.

The joint venture contract, worth up to £60 million a year, provides repairs and maintenance for homes owned by Manchester City Council which are managed by Northwards Housing.

Staff from Manchester Working, Manchester City Council, Northwards Housing and City South Manchester Housing Trust as well as senior managers from Morrison Facilities Services and some of the company’s suppliers attended the ceremony, which was held at Manchester Town Hall.

The first year apprentice award went to heating engineer Kirk Marsh while the second year apprentice award winner was joiner Scott Newsham. They will both now go on to national apprentice awards run by Morrison Facilities Services.

Shirley Hoyland, human resources manager of Manchester Working, said:

“Apprenticeships are a valuable way for people from our local communities to obtain both permanent employment and a National Vocational Qualification.

Manchester Working is delighted to be able to recognise the success of these apprentices in making the best possible use of the training opportunity that their apprenticeships offer them and in making a significant contribution to the success of our work with local people.”

Manchester Working now has 38 apprenticeship trainees in its total workforce of 550 people because it has recruited at least 12 each year since 2006; including a finance apprentice and two trainee quantity surveyors.

As well as the apprentice awards, for the first time this year other employees were included in the event. New awards included Manager of the Year, Employee of the Year, Team of the Year, Mentor of the Year and Safety, Health and Environmental Ambassador of the Year.

Winners were judged from nomination forms received from employees across the company. Clients and sponsors formed a panel of judges, which decided who the winners in each category would be.