A rising star in the business world has been recognised for her excellence at an awards ceremony for apprentices.

Ellie Hubble, from Dorchester, has claimed the coveted 'Advance Apprentice of the Year' at the Dorset Apprenticeship Awards. 

Currently working as an administrator at the property investment firm Redtale Group, based in Dorchester, she is studying a level 3 business administration apprenticeship from Weymouth College.

Judges were impressed by her contribution to the business, her professional success and personal achievements in her role.

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Her manager said Ellie shows maturity and professionalism in her work at the company.

She was among a trio of high-flyers named as winners at a ceremony with dignitaries including the Lord-Lieutenant of Dorset Angus Campbell and special guest and keynote speaker Sonnaz Nooranvary.

This was the third time Dorset Chamber has joined forces with the Dorset and Somerset Training Provider Network for its annual celebration of apprentices in the workplace.

The chamber's chief executive Ian Girling said: “Apprentices are the lifeblood of our businesses.

“They form the next generation of business leaders and judging by the talent, commitment and excellence demonstrated by our winners and finalists, the future is in safe hands.

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“Judging was incredibly difficult and richly deserved congratulations go to all of our winners for their success as well as all of the finalists for showing just how valuable and important apprenticeships are.”

Keynote speaker and former Sunseeker International Ltd apprentice Sonnaz is the resident upholstery expert on the hit BBC 1 TV show The Repair Shop. 

The Dorset Apprenticeship Awards were free to enter and are separate to the Dorset Business Awards, which are being held in October as part the chamber’s Business Festival.

Dorset Chamber – the ‘voice of business’­ – is the county’s leading business support organisation with nearly 700 members representing 37,000 employees.

Ranked as the leading chamber nationally with 120 five-star reviews, the chamber celebrates its 75th anniversary this year.

It has a mission statement of ‘enabling better lives through business’.

The winners and finalists in full:

Intermediate Apprentice of the Year:

Winner: Sergejs Murnikovs from the Hendy Group (training provider, Calex)

Finalist: Jade Munden from the Dorset County Hospital (training provider, Weymouth College)

Finalist: Sonny Wilson from SG Contractor Accounting (training provider, Bournemouth and Poole College.

Advance Apprentice of the Year:

Winner: Ellie Hubble from the Redtale Group (training provider, Weymouth College)

Finalist: Mia Allum from Draken (training provider, the Resource Group)

Finalist: Erin Cutler from Yunex Traffic (training provider, Bournemouth and Poole College)

Higher and Degree Apprentice of the Year:

Winner: Elliott Smith from Draken (training provider Bournemouth University and Bournemouth and Poole College)

Finalist: Vladislavs Dunders from Parvalux (training provider, Bournemouth and Poole College and Bournemouth University)

Finalist: Abigail Turner from Christchurch Hospital (training provider Bournemouth University)