A LEADING local garden centre has scooped two top training awards at a celebration of learning event.

Television presenter and adventurer Ben Fogle handed out the awards to staff from Webbs of Wychbold.

The awards were for employer of the year in Worcestershire and in the advanced apprenticeship category - which was scooped by Droitwich Spa resident Chris Harris.

Executive chairman Ed Webb collected the employer award in recognition of the firm's commitment to training.

The garden centre has a workforce of more than 300 and is a major local employer.

Each year around 15 employees are studying for NVQs, while more than 30 take other external qualifications. A large number of staff also take part in internal training courses, for example focussing on customer service.

Twenty-four-year old Chris Harris won the overall advanced apprenticeship award for Herefordshire, Worcestershire and Shropshire.

Chris, who has worked in the Webbs landscape department for the last five years, joined the firm in 1999. He has recently achieved his level three NVQ in customer service.

Mr Webb said the family firm puts training high on its agenda and annually celebrates the staff and their hard work with their WAFTAs or Webbs Awards for Training Achievements.

"It's great news that our commitment to training has been recognised with this award. Chris deserves his advanced apprenticeship award for his hard work and ongoing training achievements."

Mr Webb added: "We see more than a million visitors a year and pride ourselves on the fact our staff are knowledgeable, well-trained and customer friendly. Our customer expectations are higher because we're the Garden Centre of the Year and we strive to ensure those expectations are met - training is at the heart of making sure that happens."

The Celebration of Learning Achievement Awards was organised by Herefordshire, Worcestershire and Shropshire Training Providers.