EVESHAM-BASED food business Kanes Foods, which currently employs around 1,500 people, secured the prize for Employer of the Year at the Midland Group Training Services (MGTS) Apprentice Awards 2017 for Worcestershire and South Birmingham.

Kanes Foods, based in Middle Littleton, near Evesham appointed MGTS in 2012 as its apprenticeship service provider to train apprentices across the business.

So far, 18 apprentices have been processed through the programme with 5 completing the apprenticeship and a further 13 in the training pipeline.

Aaron Beddoes has been an apprentice at Kanes Foods since 2015, completing the course with a BTEC in engineering and is currently studying for a HNC in electrical engineering.

He took home the award for Student of the Year, in recognition of his outstanding grades and commitment shown throughout the programme.

Richard Thomson, head of engineering at Kanes Foods, said: “MGTS has supplied us with an apprenticeship scheme to provide the engineering competence of the future for Kanes Foods.

"Our stand-out apprentice, Aaron Beddoes, was recognised as Student of The Year during the award ceremony which is absolutely fantastic and we are extremely proud of Aaron for his hard work and commitment.

“Kanes Foods strives for excellence, investing heavily in the development of our people, so we’re thrilled to receive the award for Employer of the Year.

The evening celebrated individual’s success and the awards were presented by the chief executive of MGTS, Lee Weatherly.