The North West Intermediate apprentice of the year title has gone to a 19-year-old student team leader.

Bury College’s Emily Cooper was presented with the prize at the National Training and National Apprenticeship Awards 2012, held at Legends, Bentley Motors Ltd, Crewe.

Emily is completing her apprenticeship through a local employer, Emerson’s Cafe, and Bury College. She started working at Emerson’s three years ago as a Saturday girl, when she was still completing her GCSEs.

She was promoted to manager and now leads a team of six. She is a mentor for two of her colleagues who are currently completing apprenticeships in catering and hospitality.

“Winning apprentice of the year is absolutely amazing,” she said. “To be selected from all the apprentices in the region and recognised for all my hard work at such a young age, is a real achievement.” Emily did an apprenticeship in hospitality and catering before moving on to an apprenticeship in team leadership.

Asa Gordon, director of employer responsive services at Bury College said: “Emily is a shining example of how an apprenticeship can provide opportunities and training to expand a person’s career.”