More than 70 people gathered for the 2016 Apprentice Awards event at Birkenhead’s newly re-branded Engineering College (once known as the Laird Foundation and — more recently — as the Maritime & Engineering College North West).

The chairman of Tranmere Rovers — Mark Palios — presented the awards, celebrating the achievements of apprentices across 11 different award categories.

This event took place shortly after Engineering College CEO Terry Weston unveiled a £500,000 refurbishment and re-brand as part of a plan to double the size of the training base over five years.

At the ceremony, Mr Weston said: “The Annual Apprentice awards mark a special moment in the year, when we reflect on some of the finest achievements of our students and training force. Engineering is all around us, satisfying everything from our basic needs to our more-complex dreams and ambitions.

"Today’s leading engineers and technicians make this possible through team work and technical endeavour to sustain and improve lives.

"They possess an incredible range of creative talent that is underpinned by their enquiring minds and balanced by their intellect and judgement. This is precisely the outlook we aim to instil in our apprentices from day one.”

The Apprentice of the Year award was won by Adam Hurst of Peel Ports, who said: “I want to thank all the staff in the engineering college who put time into developing my skills and those of the other apprentices. The award means a lot to me; it shows that all the studying, time and effort put into personal development has paid off.

"Hopefully, I can keep furthering my skills and have a long career in engineering.”