Bolton College held its first ever Jobs & Skills Fair to promote apprenticeships and tackle local unemployment.

The event, held at the college’s £70 million Deane Road campus, celebrated National Apprenticeship Week with an Apprentice of the Year awards ceremony presented by former X-Factor contestant Laura White.

Qurban Ali (left), motor vehicle apprentice of the year award winner, said: “I’m really pleased to have won the apprentice of the year award. Bolton College has been so supportive throughout my studies and I’d like to thank Burnetts MOT and Service Centre for giving me the opportunity to work as an apprentice with them.”

The Job & Skills Fair was attended by more than 1,000 people and supported by 40 organisations including Virgin Active, the RAF and Bolton NHS.