Apprentices at Yorkshire-based Harratts Motor Group have been awarded a host of prizes at Volvo’s Annual Apprenticeship Graduation & Awards Ceremony.

Michael Shaw, a third-year apprentice at Harratts Volvo Wakefield, was crowned the UK’s Advanced Apprentice, beating off competition from 50 other apprentices across the UK, whilst also scooping the ‘Service Technician of the Year – Year Three’ award.

Blair Scott from Harratts Volvo Leeds won the ‘Service Technician of the Year – Year One’ award.

The family-owned dealer group, which has 11 dealerships across Yorkshire, recently announced a £175,000 staff training scheme and figures last month showed it to have increased Volvo sales by 12% throughout 2009, in contrast to a 6% contraction in the UK car industry.

Shaun Harratt, Harratts managing director, said: “We are thrilled to have trained the best Volvo apprentice in the UK, not to mention the best service technician for Year One and Year Three of this prestigious scheme.

“This is a tremendous achievement for all involved; for the apprentices who worked so diligently and also for their managers and mentors who have quite clearly invested an unparalleled amount of time ensuring they are simply the best apprentices around. I am justifiably very proud of them all.

“Through our commitment to offering fantastic training we have created an enviable place to work and these three awards are testament to that.”