A BUILDING apprentice from Thornbury has won a top regional award.

Former Castle School pupil Daniel Pearce has won the South West Apprentice Award 2008.

The award was presented to Daniel by building firm Crest Nicholson, the company with whom he has completed his three-year apprenticeship with.

Daniel, 19, a keen motorcross enthusiast, was given the award while working on Crest Nicholson's new development at Eastington, near Stroud.

Daniel, who has followed his father into the construction industry, said: "I'm really pleased to have won this award, it was a bit of a surprise but I think it will stand me in good stead for a really successful career. "I've learnt lots from Crest Nicholson and am thankful for having such a good team around me."

During his apprenticeship Daniel has learnt many skills essential to the building trade, such as all aspects of bricklaying, including setting out and brick work, and the different skills needed to ensure that his bricklaying is straight, secure and up to standard.

Over the last three years Daniel has also learnt life skills such as teamwork and the importance of communication.

John Gatehouse, managing director for Crest Nicholson South West, said: "Daniel has consistently worked hard throughout his apprenticeship and this award is well-deserved. At Crest Nicholson, we think that it's very important to recognise the efforts and achievements of the whole of our workforce including our apprentices, who, like Daniel, are the future of the company."

Crest Nicholson offers school leavers across the country the chance to learn various disciplines from within the building industry through its Construction Training Programme and last year it took on eight more apprentices.

Daniel says since winning the award he now plans to continue working on his building skills and furthering his career in the industry.