A Norwich business is celebrating its success today after scooping a regional award for its work with apprentices.

B3, an outbound call centre based on Muspole Street in the city centre, won the Medium Employer of the Year Award at the East of England regional heat of the National Apprenticeship Awards.

The event was organised by the National Apprenticeship Service (NAS) and B3 will now represent the East of England and automatically go through to a judging panel for the National Apprenticeship Awards held on the 29 June 2011, in London.

On winning, a company spokesman said: 'B3 is proud that apprentices who have been through the scheme have gone on to achieve in other job roles, being given opportunities they may not otherwise have been given without the apprenticeship experience. Our apprentices have brought a lively and energetic presence to the business.'

Another Norfolk company, JD Cooling Systems, based in Kings Lynn, were highly commended in the Medium Employer of the Year category.

In the Macro Employer of the Year category NHS Norfolk and Waveney Apprenticeship Programme won the award and will also represent the East of England at the awards in London.

Jon Nay, director for the NAS in the East of England, said: 'This year's awards were a terrific showcase of the outstanding wealth of apprenticeship talent that we have across our region.'

Apprentice Chloe Brown, from Thetford, also won the Apprentice of the Year Award. The 20-year-old is completing an apprenticeship in business administration with First Choice Marquees, in Thetford, through the College of West Anglia.

Miss Brown said: 'I feel my apprenticeship has given me a helping hand onto the career ladder that I never would have got before.'

Rhia Butcher, 19, from Great Yarmouth, completing an apprenticeship in Health and Social Care with James Paget Hospital through West Suffolk College was also highly commended in the same category.

Employers are being urged to back the Challenge Norfolk 100 in 100 campaign, now in its last week, to recruit 100 apprentices in 100 days.

Visit the NAS website at www.apprenticeships.org.uk or call 08000 150 600.