TWO Newsquest employees have been recognised for their outstanding contribution to their newspapers.

Rachael Youd, newspaper sales manager at the Adver, was presented yesterday with an Excellence In Newspaper Sales award, while photographer Trevor Porter was given an Unsung Hero award for his work at the Wiltshire Times and Gazette and Herald, our sister papers in Trowbridge.

The pair were picked out by the company, which publishes more than 200 newspapers nationally, for going beyond their role to improve the papers. Each was presented with their prize by Newsquest chairman and chief executive officer, Paul Davidson.

Rachael, who is Swindon born and bred, has worked at the Adver since 2000. She is also responsible for sales of the Wiltshire Times and Gazette and Herald. She said that the award highlighted the work her team had been doing with initiatives such as the Adver Loyalty Card.

She said: “It is an honour to have been recognised by our peers in the first place and then to win is a real shock.

“My time here has gone fast. Working on products that are changing on a weekly basis makes it an exciting job. I think this award highlights the work we have been doing to increase revenue in the company with schemes like the Loyalty Card.”

Trevor received his award for his dedication and devotion to the job and going above and beyond expectations. He has worked at the Wiltshire Times since 1980, first on a freelance basis, and as a full-time member of staff from 1999. He has won Photographer of the Year three times in the Wiltshire Media Awards.

He said: “It is a real honour to be given this award. I think I got it for going that extra mile. When you’re a freelance, you’re hungry and I said I wanted to keep that drive for wanting to be there when something is happening, even if it is your day off.”