Outstanding apprentices and employers who are dedicated to training new talent were honoured at a prestigious House of Lords reception.

It came courtesy of West Nottinghamshire College Group’s annual celebration of apprenticeships event in the historic building’s Cholmondeley Room.

Now in its fifth year, the ceremony saw almost 30 top-performing apprentices — aged from 18 to 61 — presented with awards and formally congratulated.

They were selected from the college group’s crop of 13,000 apprentices across the country for their talent, dedication and contribution to their workplace.

The high-profile event was hosted by the Rt Hon Baroness Prashar, a cross-bench peer who has led several public and voluntary organisations.

Other speakers included His Excellency Mr Navtej Sarna, the High Commissioner of India in London; Dame Asha Khemka, principal and chief executive of the college group; and Carolyn Fairbairn, director-general of the Confederation of British Industry.

Ms Fairbairn joined Sherwood MP Mark Spencer in presenting engraved glass trophies and certificates to the award-winning apprentices from the college, its subsidiary company Vision Apprentices and partner training providers.

Ten of the award-winning apprentices were from Mansfield and Ashfield, including Chloe Bowers, 18, of SMB Consultancy, Mansfield; Christopher Brown, 23, of J.C. Brown and Co; Carol Hall, 61, of Blue Sky Care, Annesley; Jessica Liffen, 19, of West Nottinghamshire College; Heather Neale, 18, of Dale (Mansfield) Ltd; Reece Rymell, 18, of Pyramid Press Ltd; Adam Smith, 20, of RJ Booth Services Ltd, Sutton; Ryan Watson, 21, of DJ Swallow Construction Ltd; Emily Wilson, 20, of Rippon Homes Ltd; and Ryan Worthington, 19, of Glenair UK Ltd.

For the first time the event included three employer of the year awards to businesses that have shown a significant commitment towards apprenticeships and among the winners were Matthews and Tannert Ltd, of Kirkby.

Guests included Mansfield Mayor Kate Allsop, local and national politicians, business leaders and senior figures from the further education, higher education and skills sectors, along with college staff and governors.

Adam Smith, of Pleasley, a level 3 apprentice electrician, said: “It proves my hard work is being recognised by other people, which makes it all the more worthwhile.”

Collecting the award on behalf of Matthews and Tannert Ltd were directors Craig Matthews and Nick Dowson, who joined the firm as college-trained apprentice plumbers in the 1990s.

The college has been training the company’s apprentices for almost 50 years, with 17 currently on its books working towards construction-related qualifications.

Craig said: “Our founders, Steve Matthews and Mick Tannert, started out as apprentices at West Notts and have instilled the apprenticeship ethos into the business, which we have continued.”

Pictured are award-winning apprentices from Mansfield and Ashfield pictured with college principal and chief executive Dame Asha Khemka (centre), Sherwood MP Mark Spencer and CBI director-general Carolyn Fairbairn at the House of Lords.