AN apprentice has scooped the top prize at an annual awards ceremony.

Darren Haig, 24, was named ‘apprentice of the year’ at the annual Together Housing Group awards.

The group manages 38,000 properties across the north of England and employs 50 apprentices and trainees.

Mr Haig, from Blackburn, works for Twin Valley Homes, under the Together Housing umbrella, in horticulture and arboriculture.

The cream of the apprentice crop was honoured at the group’s training centre in Halifax as part of National Apprenticeship Week.

Also honoured was Adam Queen, 21, of Accrington, who jointly won the best trade apprentice award.

All winners received a glass trophy, certificate and £30 gift voucher.

Together Housing chief executive Tom Miskell said: “Apprenticeships and traineeships are at the very core of our business. We give young people the chance to experience a working environment, which is vital in these difficult financial times.”