A company is celebrating after it picked up a prize at the National Apprenticeship Awards finals.

Engineering firm Maycast-Nokes, which is based along Factory Lane West in Halstead, has won the highly commended rating during a ceremony held at Grosvenor House, London.

The business is rated as one of the top 100 apprenticeship employers in the UK and back in 2017, Maycast-Nokes won the East of England Regional Finals for the competition before being selected as one of the three national finalists.

Dave Blower, Sales Director at Maycast-Nokes said: "Becoming the first foundry to reach the finals of the National Apprenticeship Awards means a huge amount to us. Apprenticeships are absolutely fundamental to Maycast’s ability to remain a supplier to the aerospace industry.

"We would like to thank all of our apprentices (past and present) who have made an invaluable contribution to ensuring Maycast-Nokes’ continued ability to function as an aerospace foundry for many years to come.

"Beyond the excellent engineering work they do, their enthusiasm and drive in the promotion of apprenticeships in Essex has really helped encourage more school leavers to consider work based training."