RISING star Jake Newell has reached the finals of the Northamptonshire Business Excellence Awards just a year after joining Acorn Analytical Services as an apprentice.

22-year-old Jake, who works for the Northampton-based company as an Asbestos Analyst, was nominated for the Apprentice of the Year awards after impressing his colleagues with his commitment and strong work ethic which saw him complete his training and pass his exams in record time.

Director Ian Stone described Jake as an inspiration.

He said: “He always wants to know more and fully understand the subject area. Nothing is ever too much. He goes above and beyond to complete his work and always put in extra hours when he was training. He’s always asking questions to make sure he fully understands and he’s incredibly conscientious. From day one he has been an inspiration.”

Jake said: “The highlight for me is communicating with our clients. I really enjoy updating them about how their job is going and overseeing external operatives and ensuring that they are carrying out their work correctly and safely. It’s great to know that the work I do helps my clients’ projects to run smoothly and is potentially saving people’s lives.”

The Northamptonshire Business Excellence Awards will be held at The County Ground, Northampton on Thursday, 10 November.