A YOUNG retail worker and a social landlord from the Borders are among the finalists in Scotland’s Modern Apprenticeship Awards.

Auryn Chorley and Waverley Housing are hoping for success in the Awards, which are organised by Skills Development Scotland (SDS).

Seventeen-year-old Auryn started working for the ScotlandShop company in September 2014. He is seen as a team player by his colleagues in the Duns business which sends Scottish items across the world every day.

The Swinton-based teenager recently created a new product – a wool pocket square which will be developed in a variety of tartans and taken to market.

Auryn is a finalist in the Level 2 Apprenticeship category of the Awards and is now working on his Level 3 qualification.

Hawick-based Waverley Housing is hoping for a win in the SME Employer category, for employers with less than 250 workers.

Property Services Manager Lindsey Jefferson believes the apprentices are part of a workforce that cares about their tenants, housing and the organisation.

Waverley Housing has had mainly trade apprentices in the past, but now has IT and Business and Administration apprentices. An idea suggested by the organisation’s IT apprentice led to a productivity increase of 20%.

The Awards, which take place on tonight (November 18) in Edinburgh’s Assembly Rooms have been partnered by CGI, CITB, SQA, the City of Edinburgh Council, Diageo, Eastern Exhibition and Display and GTG Training.

SDS’s Chief Executive Damien Yeates said: “Scotland’s Modern Apprenticeship Awards recognise the commitment to training show by employers and employees across the country. It’s this continued commitment that will see the number of Modern Apprenticeship places increase each year from 25,000 to 30,000 by 2020.”

He added: “Auryn and Waverley Housing are great examples of the benefits Modern Apprenticeships bring to individuals, organisations, businesses and the wider economy. All the finalists are to be congratulated for their achievements so far. The judges are certainly going to have a difficult task picking the winners.”

November will also see Modern Apprentices visit secondary schools across the country as part of SDS’s drive to encourage more young people to consider apprenticeships as a career path.