An apprentice joiner and apprentice bricklayer have been recognised for their hard work in learning their trades at an awards ceremony.

William Davis Homes runs an industry-leading apprenticeship programme, with more than 30 apprentices currently on the housebuilder’s books.

The developer held its annual Apprentice of the Year awards on Thursday (November 14^th) in Loughborough to celebrate its hard-working apprentice recruits.

Ben Morrison, who is in his fourth year as an apprentice joiner, was named Apprentice of the Year for his excellent work on site at William Davis’ Regency Park development in Castle Donington, while also learning his trade at Leicester College.

The 21-year-old joined the company in 2021 and chose his trade after developing an interest in woodwork from an early age, having seen his Great Grandad and Grandad both build their own boats.

Ben said: “The parts of the job which I enjoy most are roofing and joisting, and I want to keep improving my skills and gaining more experience. One day, I want to pass on my knowledge to other apprentices so they can learn in the same way that I have.

“It’s an honour to be named Apprentice of the Year, and I’d like to thank my mentors Jack Jordan, Graham Clark, and Ben Smith for everything they’ve taught me.”

Fellow apprentice Ben Crumbie, who is in his third year as an apprentice bricklayer, was named runner up Apprentice of the Year.

The 20-year-old joined William Davis in 2022 and works at the company’s Lace Fields development in Ruddington, while also learning at Leicester College.

Ben said: “The part of bricklaying which I enjoy most is seeing the finished product, something which I’ve built, and being proud of it, knowing it will be there for years and years to come.

“I’m pleased to be named runner up Apprentice of the Year and my ambition is to keep on growing my knowledge and skills with William Davis, so I can become the best bricklayer I can be.”

Ben Morrison was awarded with £500 for winning Apprentice of the Year, while Ben Crumbie received £250 for being named runner-up.

Guy Higgins, Managing Director of William Davis Homes, said: “Our apprenticeship programme is now in its 53^rd year and over the years we’ve helped hundreds of young people to learn their trades and achieve industry qualifications.

“Ben and Ben are great examples of committed apprentices who are working hard to excel, both in the classroom and out on our sites. I’d like to congratulate them both and thank all our apprentices for their hard work this year.

“We have achieved five-star status – the industry gold standard – from the Home Builders Federation for nine years running now, which shows the high standards we expect.

“We’re proud to be equipping our apprentices with the skills to achieve these high standards in their work every day.”

For more information on William Davis Homes, visit www.williamdavis.co.uk.