A BUSINESS trainee from Redditch has beaten off stiff competition from across the country to be crowned Young Achiever of the Year in a national housebuilder’s award scheme.

Chloe Simpson was recognised for her hard work and dedication by leading housebuilder Persimmon Homes at a recent awards ceremony.

The 19-year-old was also named as Business Trainee of the Year, seeing off competition from across the company’s 23 regional businesses.

The inaugural Young Achievers award programme was launched by Persimmon Homes earlier this year to showcase its apprentices and trainees who have gone above and beyond to succeed in their role.

The housebuilder believes it is important to invest in its young workforce, with the chief executive, Jeff Fairburn, placing emphasis on the role trainees can play in the business’s future as he himself started in the construction industry as a 17-year-old trainee quantity surveyor.

Andy Peters, managing director at Persimmon Homes South Midlands, said: "We are absolutely thrilled that Chloe scooped two awards. She works incredibly hard so completely deserves the awards, and we are hugely proud of her achievement.

"Persimmon manages a robust apprentice and trainee programme, taking more than 100 young people into the business nationally each year.

"We feel it is important to reward those youngsters who have got off to a flying start and Chloe is a perfect example of this."

Ms Simpson joined Persimmon Homes South Midlands in 2013 as one of the first management trainees and within months she had taken part in a national radio campaign alongside Jeff Fairburn to promote the value of ‘on the job’ training.

The teenager is a sales administrator based at the company’s regional head office in Studley.

Mr Peters added: "It wasn’t easy singling out an individual to best represent our region. However, we felt that Chloe is a shining example of our future workforce and she is already well on the road to forging a successful career in the property sector."

For more information visit persimmonhomes.com.