A business apprentice has been named Learner of the Year at the Wandsworth Lifelong Learning Awards.

Lauren Roots, a level 3 business apprentice in Wandsworth Council’s planning department, was presented with the award.

Her tutors are said to have praised both her commitment and progress during her apprenticeship journey.

Barry Thompson, manager and tutor of Deaf First, was praised for his contribution to learning in the borough over the last decade.

Based in Oak Lodge School, Deaf First specialises in working with learners who have communication needs.

Jonathan Ajibade struggled to find employment in his field after graduation and joined a traineeship programme.

In time, he was able to find work at Berkeley Homes in Battersea and aims to become a site manager in the next five years.

Kahina Reggane, from Aspire, and Samantha Rob-McKinley, from Wandsworth Apprenticeships were named Tutors of the Year.

The other award winners are as follows:

- Souad Salemkour (Aspire Centre)

- Leanne Frasier (Apprenticeships)

- Andrea Brown (Employability Programme)

- Paulina Zemke (Functional Skills)

- Alejandro Piedrahita (Functional Skills)

- Ryan Roche (Traineeships)

The Wandsworth Lifelong Learning Awards aim to recognise the borough’s highest achieving adult learners, rewarding them for their efforts over the last year.

More than 150 people were granted certificates of achievement in a range of subjects, including business administration, health and social care, teaching, literacy, numeracy and others.

For more information, visit: www.wandsworthlifelonglearning.org.uk