KIDDERMINSTER hair salon, Andrea Beers, has won a West Midlands Apprenticeship Award 2010.

Andrea Beers won the Micro Employer of the Year category, for employers with fewer than 10 staff.

The salon started with one apprentice and now has three, with plans for a second salon meaning more will follow.

Natalie Woodwood and Vanessa Sebastianio, of Andrea Beers, were presented with the West Midlands Apprenticeship Award at a ceremony hosted by the BBC television presenter, Suzanne Virdee, at the Hippodrome in Birmingham.

The Awards are organised by the National Apprenticeship Service (NAS).

West Midlands winners:

Young Apprentice of the Year: hairdresser Luke Jennings, 16, of Birmingham, who works at Burlingtons New ID

Apprentice of the Year: sculptor and metalworker Jak Forester, 19, of Stoke on Trent, who works at PM Training

Advanced Apprentice of the Year: care services worker, Hayley Farr, 24, of Wolverhampton, who works at C&S Care Services

Micro Employer of the Year: hair salon Andrea Beers, of Kidderminster

Small Employer of the Year: Royal Air Force Museum, of Shifnal, Shropshire

Large Employer of the Year: Doosan Babcock Energy, of Tipton

Macro Employer of the Year: Telford & Wrekin Council

Stephen Lilley, the West Midlands regional director of the National Apprenticeship Service, said: “All the winners are fantastic examples of the value of Apprenticeships to individuals, employers and the region. They all deserve enormous credit for their achievements.”

The awards are sponsored by City & Guilds, EDI, EAL, Skills for Care, BT, Unilever, Sellafield NDA and BAE Systems.

Miranda Barnes, territory business manager at City & Guilds, said: “The awards are a fantastic way to celebrate the hard work and dedication of individuals and employers.

“We have supported the Apprenticeship Awards for a number of years and it’s always a joy to be at the ceremonies and celebrate these effective training programmes and talented individuals.

“The West Midlands has long-term success with Apprenticeships and this year has been no exception.”

More details about Apprenticeships are available at apprenticeships.org.uk. Employers can call the NAS free helpline on 08000 150 600.

Full list of Winners, Highly Commended or given Special Merit certificates:

Young Apprentice of the Year, sponsored by Unilever:

Winner: Luke Jennings, of Birmingham, who works at Burlingtons New ID

Apprentice of the Year, sponsored by EDI:

Winner: Jak Forester, of Stoke on Trent, who works at PM Training

Highly Commended: Richard Lawrence, of Birmingham, who works at Cadbury

Highly Commended: Stephen Lewis, of Newcastle-under-Lyme, who works at Keele University

Special Merit: Katie Moran, of Coventry, who works at Whitefriars Housing Group

Advanced Apprentice of the Year, sponsored by EAL:

Winner: Hayley Farr, of Wolverhampton, who works at C&S Care Services

Highly Commended: John Barton, of Market Drayton, who works at Odleys Inns

Highly Commended: Mellissa Hemming, of Birmingham, who works at Heart of Birmingham Primary Care Trust

Special Merit: John Croft, of Nuneaton, who works at Jaguar Land Rover

Micro Employer of the Year, sponsored by Skills for Care:

Winner: Andrea Beers, of Kidderminster

Highly Commended: West Midlands Creative Alliance, of Digbeth

Small Employer of the Year, sponsored by BT:

Winner: Royal Air Force Museum, of Shifnal, Shropshire

Highly Commended: Red Edge, of Ross on Wye, Herefordshire

Large Employer of the Year, sponsored by BAE Systems:

Winner: Doosan Babcock Energy, of Tipton

Highly Commended: Heart of Birmingham Teaching Primary Care Trust, of Birmingham

Highly Commended: NHS Birmingham East and North

Macro Employer of the Year:

Winner: Telford & Wrekin Council, of Shropshire

Highly Commended: Staffordshire County Council