A TRAINEE bricklayer, from Great Sankey, will find out tonight, Thursday, if he has scooped a prize at this year's 'Builder and engineer awards'.

Liam Sargeant, aged 19, has been named as a finalist in the 'Apprentice/new starter of the year' category after working for home builder Redrow's north west division.

No stranger to winning ways, the Penketh High Pupil was named ‘Apprentice of the year’ for 2014 by his employer Redrow and despite only being in his second year has already done everything he needs to secure an NVQ Level 3 – one year ahead of schedule.

Liam, who will find out if he is a winner during a ceremony at the Emirates Old Trafford, said: “Being an apprentice is a real eye opener to the industry.

"You meet new people, learn new skills and gain an insight into other people’s skills as well as your own, all while earning a wage.

"I’m excited to be shortlisted for this award and looking forward to the ceremony.”

It is the first time the awards, which are in their 10th year, have introduced a prize for new starters.

Liam, who has been based at Redrow’s Calderstones Grange development in Liverpool after securing a place at Warrington Collegiate to learn bricklaying, was nominated for the award by Redrow, with the full backing of the sub-contractor he works with, his college and his Construction Industry Training Board apprenticeship officer, all of whom had nothing but praise for his performance.

Paul Cromby, Redrow’s area construction manager, said: “Liam is a great team player but he’s also a self-starter who can work well under his own initiative.

"He’s far ahead of where we would expect him to be at this point of an apprenticeship and is capable of doing a wide range of tasks.”

Zack Clarkson, managing director of Brickwork 365, added Liam was “leaps and bounds” ahead of any other apprentice they have worked with.