A FAMILIAR face on BBC television will be presenting this year’s Worcestershire Apprenticeship Awards.

Angellica Bell, who started out working on children’s television before moving on to becoming BBC The One Show’s longest serving reporters, has been chosen to host this year's awards.

The deadline for nominations for the awards, which celebrate the county’s most successful apprentices, schools, training providers and apprentice employers, has now passed. The awards, in its fifth year, are being held on Thursday, November 15, at West Midland Safari Park.

Among the awards being given out this year are school of the year, intermediate level apprentice of the year, advanced level apprentice of the year, Worcestershire apprentice of the year, newcomer apprenticeship employer of the year, small apprenticeship employer of the year, medium apprenticeship employer of the year, large apprenticeship employer of the year, apprenticeship ambassador of the year, training provider of the year and Worcestershire apprenticeship employer of the year.

The two main awards are being sponsored by Worcester Bosch for employer of the year and Yamazaki Mazak (UK) Ltd for Worcestershire apprentice of the year.

Last year the awards ceremony was hosted by comedian Mark Watson, and attracted a record audience of 360 attendees.

Gary Woodman, chief executive of Worcestershire Local Enterprise Partnership, said: “I look forward to being able to celebrate the successes that apprenticeships have brought for many more businesses at this year’s event .”

Councillor Marcus Hart, cabinet member with responsibility for education and skills at Worcestershire County Council, said: “This year’s awards are about recognising the many additional success stories our local employers have had in the last 12 months and I look forward to yet another memorable event at the West Midland Safari Park.”