Presentation of this year's Yorkshire Training Awards took place during the annual ball organised by the Yorkshire Region of the Building Engineering Services Association (the BESA) at the Majestic Hotel in Harrogate.

Presentations were made to nine employees from five BESA member companies.

The winners were:

• NVQ level 2 heating and ventilation installation - Andy Lewis, Mitton Group.
• NVQ level 3 heating and ventilation craftsman - Nathan Dean, N G Bailey.
• NVQ level 3 heating and ventilation craftsman merit award - Kieron Simon, Mitton Group.
• NVQ level 2 service and maintenance - Thomas Metcalfe, G&H Building Services.
• NVQ level 3 electrician - Mitchell Willits, N G Bailey.
• Incorporated engineer - Kane Alexander, N G Bailey.
• Incorporated engineer merit award - Joe James, Imtech
• NVQ level 2 refrigeration and air conditioning - Elliott Gledhill, Crowther & Shaw (Grimsby College).
• NVQ level 2 refrigeration and air conditioning merit award - Daniel Netherwood, Crowther & Shaw (Grimsby College).

In presenting the awards, BESA president Jim Marner pointed out that, as a former chairman of the region, he was well aware of its long-standing commitment to vocational education and training.

He said: 'The awards that have been presented this evening surely prove that your commitment to education and training has not wavered - and that you continue to appreciate the need to train, especially in the light of the serious skills shortages that are becoming, almost daily, an increasing feature of the business landscape.'

The Yorkshire Training Awards line-up comprises: (back row, left to right) Tom Metcalfe, Andy Lewis, BESA president Jim Marner, BESA Yorkshire chairman Daniel Ball, Kane Alexander and Mitchell Willitts; front row (left to right) Kieron Simon, Elliott Gledhill, Daniel Netherwood, Joe James and Nathan Dean.