A TEENAGER is driving forward in his career.

Apprentice and Bolton College student Joshua Hudson was highly commended in the North West regional final of the prestigious National Apprenticeship Awards 2017.

Joshua, aged 18, who works as an apprentice at Jon-Son Motors in Bury, was triumphant in the Intermediate Apprentice of the Year category.

The awards, now in their 14th year, are run by the National Apprenticeship Service and recognise excellence in two areas — businesses that grow their own talent with apprentices and apprentices who have made a significant contribution to their workplaces.

Joshua said: "I travelled down to the Titanic Hotel in Liverpool for the awards with my parents and it was a fantastic day, made all the better for walking away with an award."

Joshua was highly commended in recognition of the contribution he has made to Jon-Son Motors since joining as an apprentice after leaving school. Joshua, who works alongside his father, is said to have a talent for diagnostics and say the college amazed his tutors with his knowledge and ability to fix even the most complicated of diagnostic issues.

Sue Husband, director of the National Apprenticeship Service, said: "The awards allow talented apprentices and committed employers from across our regions to receive well-deserved recognition for their apprenticeship achievements.

"The highly commended finalists at these awards show the range of sectors and variety of job roles apprenticeships are available in, and how they can deliver the skills employers need. I congratulate all highly commended finalists on their success in this competition."

Peter Alstead, head of Motor Vehicles at Bolton College, added: "Joshua has been a model student since day one, so he thoroughly deserves this award.

"He works incredibly hard and at only 18, he is achieving things that those who have been in the business for years struggle to achieve."