HERE is your winner of the Daily Echo’s Apprentice of the Year competition.

After votes by phone, email and text, you’ve chosen Craig Adams as deserving the title.

Craig, 21, will now be given £100 worth of equipment to help him on his career path, as well as a certificate and framed front page.

The apprentice coach mechanic at Excelsior Coaches in Bournemouth was nominated by MD Kathy Tilbury, who has added to Craig’s delight by matching the £100 prize.

Craig said: “I’m really chuffed.

“I’ve worked hard towards my apprenticeship and I know I’ve got a job at Excelsior now, so I will work towards that.

“I’m more practical with my hands and less academic and it’s helped me with lots of things.”

Craig attends college in Boscombe once a week and spends the rest of his time in the coach firm’s garages.

In October last year he undertook a week’s intensive training to obtain his PCV licence and driver CPC qualification, which he passed first time.

Kathy added: “We’re delighted that Craig’s won Apprentice of the Year, it’s deserved.

“Across the business we’ve got a commitment to training and development to all staff, but it’s not a sexy industry and it’s important that we attract new young blood into the industry that we can mould and develop, working with the training providers, into an apprentice that can grow and develop with the business after their apprenticeship.”

Craig will complete his NVQ in August.