A UNIVERSITY of Bradford student has been named Apprentice of the Year at an annual awards event.

Chemistry student Talia Pryce was presented with the honour at the NEPIC Industry Awards.

Talia, from Redcar, started her course at Bradford after taking up an apprenticeship position with Mitsubishi as a research scientist.

She works four days a week and studies one day, and her award comes as she approaches the end of her four-year course.

In her day job, she works on the chemical processes used to make polymers, which are then used for things like making acrylic, which have wide application across many industries.

NEPIC (North East of England Process Industry Cluster) celebrates outstanding individual and corporate success within the chemical-processing industry.

Talia said: “I feel very proud. This is a really good way to get industry experience, I’d definitely recommend it.

“I’ve really enjoyed all the lectures, and the lecturers have been very supportive, especially during the pandemic.”

Assistant Professor Tom Swift, from the Faculty of Life Sciences, said: “Talia was one of the first students to enrol on our new programme, and Mitsubishi was the first company to test the water of the newly approved Level 6 Laboratory Scientist standard.

“We’ve thoroughly enjoyed exploring this new method in a new setting with her.”