Lisa Kaye has been named Incommunities’ 2010 apprentice of the year at an ceremony held today.

The housing group celebrates its best construction trainees at the annual event, covering trades such as joinery, plumbing, bricklaying, plastering and electrical work.

Apprentices range in age from 17 to 46 and each one follows a structured training programme which combines college-based training with on the job learning.

This year employees voted on the winners for the first time, which were: Peer Award – Dawn Ayres; Trades Award (Plumbing) – Jaden Powell; Trades Award (Electrical) – Jordan Steadman; Trades Award (Joiner) – Lisa Kaye; Outstanding New Apprentice – Lindsey Raynor; The Graham Watson Special Achievement Award – Michael Parker; Mentoring Award – Jim Crowther.

Miss Kaye, 34, a second-year apprentice joiner, who lives at Parkwood Rise, Keighley, then received the overall apprentice of the year award.

She said she was delighted to win: “I had thought I was going to win it last year, but I didn’t and I’m glad that I didn’t in a way because it’s made me grow.”

Delroy Beverley, director of Incommunities – propertysolutions, said: “These awards recognise the excellent application, skills and team work shown by our apprentices. Attributes that they have demonstrated both on-site working alongside qualified trades people and during their college based training.

“The introduction of an employee voting system has given colleagues and staff a ‘big say’ in the awards themselves and shows the significant value they place on the apprentices’ contribution.”