A young County Antrim man, Ross Getty, has been awarded the inaugural PMST Apprentice of the Year 2011 title during a glittering ceremony at Belfast City Hall.

Ross, 20, from Newtownabbey, is a plumber at Belfast-based building services contracting company Sharpe Mechanical Services, which was simultaneously conferred with the accolade of Employer of the Year 2011.

Around 100 young apprentices and VIP guests from business and industry attended the black tie event, which was co-hosted by BBC presenter Karen Patterson and comedian Tim McGarry.

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The awards, organised by Plumbing and Mechanical Services Training, recognised outstanding Level 3 NVQ apprentices from all over Northern Ireland in nine different categories.

“The Apprentice of the Year awards are fitting recognition of the sheer determination of these young people and their employers in sticking with their apprenticeships in the most challenging of times,” said Derek Poole, PMST chairman.

“It has been a very difficult period in the construction industry, so it’s this sort of commitment that is essential to provide the skills which are required to underpin future industrial growth and economic prosperity in Northern Ireland.”

Among the VIP guests at the ceremony was new Belfast Lord Mayor, Councillor Niall O’ Donnghaile, Chair of the Institute of Directors Mervyn McCall, and Professor Jackie McCoy, Director of the Business Institute, University of Ulster.

(GK/KMcA)