ISO QUALITY Services, a Worcester certification company, has been shortlisted for a major apprenticeship award.

The company in Bromyard Road, St John's has reached the West Midlands regional finals in the SME employer of the year category of this year's National Apprenticeship Awards. If it wins it will go forward to the National Apprenticeship Awards, with winners announced in January 2016.

The success follows ISO being named Worcestershire Apprenticeship Employer of the Year 2014.

As part of its apprenticeship scheme, the company took on three apprentices, Emily Cameron, Mike Williams and Natalie Allison, who have now become permanent members of staff and gone on to study for further qualifications with ISO's support.

Operations director Jennifer Appleton said: "The success of our apprenticeship scheme is testament to our apprentices’ hard work and incredible sense of enthusiasm which has seen ISO Quality Services Ltd grow year on year since their introduction. I should also point out the scheme would not have become the success that it has without the support of every member staff and creating opportunities for talented apprentices’ is something ISO is very serious about.

As part of the scheme Miss Appleton and apprentice Miss Allison have been appointed apprenticeship ambassadors.

The regional apprentice awards ceremony will be taking place on October 8 at Edgbaston Cricket Ground, Birmingham.