ST AUSTELL Brewery has recognised the achievements of its 65 apprentices during National Apprenticeship Week as well as celebrating two of its employees who triumphed at the Cornwall Apprenticeship Awards.

At the awards, Alice Norris from the Borough Arms in Bodmin was named hospitality apprentice of the year, and Piers Smith, who works at Haveners in Fowey, won the public vote award for apprentice achiever of the year.

Alice has worked in St Austell Brewery’s managed pub estate for the past three years, starting out as assistant manager at the Central in Newquay before moving to the Borough Arms, gaining a recent promotion to general manager.

Commis chef Piers, who started at Haveners in 2022, is completing his level two professional chef apprenticeship.

Jon Kelley, early careers manager at St Austell Brewery, said: “Alice won hospitality apprentice of the year for the amazing work she has put into her apprenticeship, all while relocating, receiving a promotion from holding manager to manager, raising funds for charity and improving productivity at the Borough Arms.

“Piers’ apprenticeship journey has literally transformed him into a self-assured member of his team and a much-loved part of the community that surrounds Haveners. It has been great to see his confidence grow. He is a great example of the transformative power of apprenticeships and thoroughly deserves this recognition.

“Apprenticeships are a direct route into careers offering real-world experience – not just an alternative to education.”

The brewery has held its own annual apprenticeship awards with an apprentice of the year award going to Jordan Woolley, a member of the engineering team which helps ensure the daily brewing of St Austell’s range of beers continues.

Meanwhile, more than 700 pupils from local schools have visited the brewery in St Austell for a careers fair, getting a flavour of the opportunities that exist within the business.