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Two trainees from The Source Skills Academy have won awards at the Skillsmart Retail Rising Star Awards. Apprentice of the Year April Bell, and HR Professional of the Year Laura Guest celebrated their wins at the prestigious Awards.

April Bell, an Apprentice with The Source Skills Academy, won the Apprentice of the Year award
and Laura Guest was recognised as the HR Professional of the Year at the Awards,
held at London's glitzy Grosvenor House Hotel on 9th September.

April and Laura who work at Monica F Hewitt Florists Hillsborough, and House of Fraser Meadowhall respectively, triumphed over stiff competition at the award ceremony.

The Skillsmart Retail Rising Stars Awards are designed to recognise the best talent in all areas of retail, from star apprentices to top-notch marketeers and buyers, all demonstrating
outstanding talent, aptitude and initiative in their roles - singling them out as the ones to watch for the future.

Dragon's Den star and retail heavyweight, Theo Paphitis, helped open the show with a speech that kept the crowd entertained. He once again praised all the rising stars in retail and
commended the retail sector as a whole with how they have dealt with trading conditions over the last year. Comedian Russell Kane later entertained around 500 of the sector's rising stars, with the celebrations lasting until the early hours.

With a record number of entries, this year the judges found it harder than ever to reach their final decisions, so congratulations to all who were successful.

The Source Skills Academy Managing Director Ann Cadman said: "The prestigious awards are
fantastic recognition for our learners. April and Laura are worthy winners, demonstrating retail excellence in their roles. We are very proud to celebrate their achievements - they really are our rising stars!"


Photo - Dragon's Den star and retail heavyweight Theo Paphitis and Comedian Russell Kane present April with the Apprentice of the Year Award