Three new sponsors have come forward to support Irvine Trades’ Apprentice of the Year Awards as organisers launched the countdown to the event last week.

And, fittingly, the new backers of the awards – which this year will be held in The Park Hotel, Kilmarnock on September 6 – are Ayrshire companies with a proud record of recruiting apprentices namely the Billy Bowie Group, QTS and Hillhouse Quarry.

Last year’s shortlisted apprentices were the guests at the 2019 awards launch event on Friday, April 26 who had lunch at the Park Hotel, before touring the Kilmarnock FC stadium.

They were then given the opportunity to speak with Killie chairman Billy Bowie and QTS managing director Alan McLeish.

For more information, contact organiser Brian Donohoe on 07774646600.