Young apprentices from across north Essex have been recognised for their hard work. 
Toni Brewster, James Doyle and Christopher Jones were praised by their employer, Persimmon Homes. 
The regional builder launched its Young Achievers Awards programme to put the spotlight on its apprentices and sales trainees who have gone above and beyond in their roles to succeed. 
Toni, 23, of Maldon joined Persimmon in May 2013 and was nominated in the trainee of the year category by sales manager Kim Oates. 
Kim says: “Toni took on her first site in January at Gooshays where she has had a brilliant year, selling 79 properties, mostly from a cabin, 48 of which have already exchanged. 
“She is, in my mind, an excellent example of how the sales trainee programme should work and has an excellent future with Persimmon Homes.” 
James Doyle, 18, was put forward in the trade apprentice of the year category by his manager, Carl Twin, a site manage.
The Persimmon Homes Essex business trainee of the year was handed to Christopher Jones, 22, nominated by commercial director Damian Seddon. Christopher, of Braintree, joined Persimmon in February this year on a part-time basis while he completed his degree in quantity surveying. 
He started working for the company full-time in May. 
He has been helping the surveyors in payments, procurement and valuation and has been rewarded for his initiative with his own project in Frinton and will take full responsibility of the surveying aspects of the job. 
Damian says: “Chris is a textbook example of how a graduate trainee should exhibit a passion to progress within a company through hard work and commitment.” 
The Persimmon Homes Young Achievers Awards are open to all employees who are 25 or under. 
Winners from each of the builder’s 24 regions will go forward to be considered nationally by a panel of directors, 
including chief executive Jeff Fairburn. 
Each national category winner will receive £1,500, while an overall winner, the young achiever of the year 2014, will receive an additional £500 and a trophy.