An East Lancashire employer has been crowned Large Employer of the Year at a regional awards ceremony.

The North West ceremony of the National Apprentice Awards were held at the Titanic Hotel in Liverpool on Wednesday.

And Darwen employer, WEC Group limited, was awarded The British Army Award for Large Employer of the Year.

Now in their 16th year, the National Apprenticeship Awards showcase the diverse and growing range of sectors engaged with apprenticeships, whilst celebrating the achievements of outstanding apprentices, apprentice employers and individuals to inspire others to follow in their footsteps and champion apprenticeships across England.

The team at WEC will now go through to the national final, which takes place in London on November 27.

Training and Development Manager at WEC Group, Chris Mercer, said: "We’re totally thrilled to receive this award – it’s massive to us.

"It’s a massive selling point for future apprentices for us as an employer, and we benefit from this young, dynamic, loyal and committed workforce.

"Apprentices are an essential part of our team, bringing invaluable skills and allowing us to take on projects that we might not otherwise have been able to.”

A full list of the 17 apprentice employers and individuals recognised at the North West of England regional ceremony can be found here.