Clacton: Kayleigh is Essex Apprentice of the Year

3:00pm Tuesday 26th August 2008

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A DETERMINED apprentice has proved leaving school with no qualifications does not always spell the end of education success.

Kayleigh Burman, a trainee at Beautiful Brides in Clacton, has been crowned Essex Apprentice of the Year.

The 19-year-old, whose dad Neil died when she was nine, left Clacton’s Colbayns High School without a single GCSE and her college course shut down halfway through.

She was referred by Connexions to training provider TBG Learning, which offered her an apprenticeship with Old Road-based Beautiful Brides – a bridal dress and ball gown company.

She completed a customer service NVQ Level 2 and has gone on to take a business administration NVQ Level 2.

Debbie Clover, who owns the store, was so impressed with Kayleigh’s determination that she entered her in the Apprenticeship Awards, run by the Learning and Skills Council.

The judges were also impressed and named Kayleigh the Essex Apprentice of the Year 2008.

For more information, see the Gazette on Tuesday.