THE Seafood Pub Company is progressing to the final of the National Apprenticeship Awards after scooping an award at the regional final.

A Nelson and Colne College (NCC) apprentice was also given a highly commended prize at the North West Regional Final held in Liverpool.

Seafood Pub Company, which operates at 12 sites in the north, was recognised for its unique apprenticeship partnership with NCC which will see it invest £100,000 into a training and development centre at NCC by 2018.

Mark Taft, Head of Kitchen Operations at Seafood Pub Company said: “We’re absolutely thrilled to win this award. Our much-valued partnership with Nelson and Colne College was already award-winning, and this latest accolade underlines what a fantastic, ground-breaking education/employer relationship it is."

Sandra Shaw, Operational Manager at Castle Supported Living in Clitheroe, was given a highly commended award.

She said: "I am absolutely overwhelmed to receive this prize. It’s a brilliant feeling. I would like to thank everybody at Castle for their help and my assessor Jean Ringham in particular at Nelson and Colne College who has been wonderful with her support and guidance."