Lucky 20-year-old Deborah Burgess has become the envy of Billericay by being told she can enjoy a jetset lifetime of sun, sea and sand - and all for free.

Deborah beat 10,000 rivals in a contest through her job - and her prize is a holiday a year for life.

But her reward was no easy task - she had to convince her bosses that she was the best person at her job in the country - working in an industry dominated by men.

The hard work paid off when she was named her industry's national Modern Apprentice of the Year.

She said: "I was thrilled to win the regional final, but to win the national award in my category is something else.

''I've suddenly developed a lot of new friends now that people know I have free access to a villa in Spain every year."

Deborah said Billericay firm D & D Construction gave her the opportunity to prove her potential when she joined as a receptionist two and a half years ago.

She won her dream prize by swiftly working her way up the ranks. She is now a student quantity surveyor.

The firm is a contractor for London Underground and Railtrack and Deborah is working on a £1million contract at Hyde Park Station and has just completed a contract on the new Jubilee line.

David Farrow, managing director at the Billericay High Street firm, said: "It is difficult in a male dominated industry but Deborah's ability, drive and determination are something special. "

''To come from an office environment and mix with the lads on site takes a special quality. A lot of her hours on site are midnight to 4.30am."

He added: ''Deborah is an outstanding employee. She's an outstanding student and has great ability in her work. We did not hesitate to put her forward.

"I was very confident she would win and I thought if someone manages to beat her they must be exceptional.''

Deborah, from Stanford-le-Hope, is 15 months into her Modern Apprenticeship and two years into a six-year BSc in quantity surveying at Anglia Polytechnic University.

She picked up her prize in the Daily Mirror-sponsored competition at the finale at the Caf Royal in London.

Life's a holiday: Deborah Burgess, who is not just one of the lads.

Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.