AN accountant is hoping he has the winning formula after being shortlisted in this year’s Worcestershire Apprenticeship Awards.

Sam Batkin, who works at Ormerod Rutter Chartered Accountants in Droitwich, has made it through to the final of this year’s event, which is taking place at the West Midlands Safari Park on Thursday (November 16).

The 22-year-old from Barbourne in Worcester has been working for Ormerod Rutter for the last five years and is up against three other finalists in the Apprentice Ambassador of the Year category.

“I can’t believe I’m a finalist, nothing like this has ever happened to me before,” he said.

“It feels really good to be acknowledged for my work over the past few years. It’s nice to know that my colleagues like what I’m doing and think that it’s worthy of recognition.

“Win or lose, I will simply continue to try and do what I’m currently doing, which is helping to make sure our apprentices are as happy as possible at work and are being given the right training to enable them to progress and succeed in their roles.”

Mr Batkin was nominated for the award by his colleagues for his passion for mentoring and training Ormerod Rutter’s apprentices and his overall enthusiasm for apprenticeships, which includes giving talks at schools and careers events.

Robin Williams, marketing manager at Ormerod Rutter, said: “As a graduated apprentice, Sam knows the ins and outs of what it takes to be an apprentice.

“Having moved on from the Ormerod Rutter Apprenticeship Programme, Sam is now progressing up the ranks and has big aspirations to climb the career ladder.

“When he isn’t helping our apprentices, he’s often the first to help spread the word about our apprenticeship scheme.

“He always goes out of his way to help and promote apprenticeships and he, himself, is a success story for these schemes.

“He’s a real credit to himself, Ormerod Rutter and a true real-life ambassador for apprenticeships.”

A total of 30 of Worcestershire’s best apprentices, employers, training providers and schools have been announced as finalists.

For more information about the awards, visit worcsapprenticeships.org.uk/apprenticeship-awards