A MANAGEMENT apprentice from a Swindon nursery has won a prestigious national award.

Rachael Allen, from the Busy Bees in St Andrews Ridge, won the Management Apprentice of the Year gong for her inspirational work at the nursery, beating rivals from across the country to the title.

She was presented with the honour at a glittering ceremony at the National Motorcycle Museum in Birmingham on July 11.

Rachael was also presented with her Level 3 Management Apprenticeship, which was attended by family and friends.

Busy Bees Training hosted an afternoon dedicated to celebrating the inspirational and exemplary work of more than 100 apprentices working at 238 Busy Bees nurseries across the UK.

Complete with a Hollywood Glamour theme, the ceremony was hosted by Free Radio’s Breakfast Presenter John Dalziel and featuring guest speaker, television presenter Cerrie Burnell.

Rachael said: “I’m so happy and so proud to have won.

"I’ve been at Busy Bees 10 years now and decided to do my apprenticeship in management because I wanted to progress up the career ladder.

"To be recognised for the work that I have done makes me feel like all my hard-work is appreciated and that I have brought real value to the team."

The Busy Bees Early Years Training Academy Graduation event recognised the dedication displayed by childcare and management apprentices across all ages and levels, who have completed their qualification in the last 12 months, and acknowledged the hard work shown each day.

Cerrie said she was delighted to take part.

“I think it’s important to recognise the value of what a nursery practitioner can bring to a child, such as learning through play, all of the joy, all of the security and actually all of that reassurance to the mother or father, is just as invaluable as having a happy home," she said.

"If you know that your child is happy in their childcare, then you as the parent can relax in the knowledge that your child is receiving the best care available.

“I went back to work when my daughter was three months old and, as a single parent, I have always had to work.

"I am very lucky to be able to say that I love my job, so I really value how important good childcare is to the whole family setup, as well as the development of a child. It is really integral to the foundation of a happy family."

Busy Bees MD, Marg Randles, said: “This event really is a recognition of all the hard work that our apprentices do, because they have worked really hard to get where they are today.”