A STUDENT at Richard Huish College has been named Higher Apprentice of the Year at the Somerset Apprenticeship Awards.

Patrick Millard increased sports participation by 20% during his three year apprenticeship as a sports coordinator and college sport maker at the Taunton college.

He completed a level three apprenticeship in sports development and then progressed to a higher apprenticeship in business and administration.

His qualification played a part in him getting into Avon and Somerset Police where he is training to be a police officer.

There was another reason to celebrate for Huish as Taunton and Somerset NHS Trust (Musgrove Park Hospital), which runs an apprenticeship scheme in partnership with the college, won Large Employer of the Year.

Huish had two other apprentices who were nominated for Advanced Apprentice of the Year while Christina Branfield, employed by Musgrove, scooped the Intermediate Apprentice of the Year Award (Level 2) at this year’s South-West Healthcare Apprenticeship Awards.