Hertfordshire County Council is one of the top 100 employers in the country for employing apprentices.

The list was announced at the National Apprenticeship Awards at Grosvenor House in London.

Since 2012 Hertfordshire County Council has employed more than 150 apprentices.

Apprenticeships are designed for school, college leavers or career changers looking for a career with the council.

The programme offers apprenticeships in business administration, finance, engineering, IT and the award-winning national 'skills for care' programme.

Apprentices receive on the job training, including support and skills development, alongside gaining their qualification.

Former Hertfordshire County Council apprentice Holly De Boise now co-ordinates the corporate apprenticeship schemes and was highly commended within the Apprentice Champion of the Year category for the Eastern region.

She said: “I completed the apprenticeship as a part of my professional development while being employed at the council. It allowed me to move up to the next level, and gave me the confidence to start a career in HR, going on to do further education.

“Just this year I’ve qualified in my CIPD degree which the council sponsored me to do – I now have a degree without having had to go to university, and I don’t have any student debt.

“This wouldn’t have been possible without completing my apprenticeship.”