Newport's Tiny Rebel brewery is among 18 employers and learners shortlisted for top training awards.

The employers and learners have excelled in apprenticeship, skills and employment training programmes delivered by Cambrian Training, which runs the annual Apprenticeship, Employment and Skills Awards.

Shortlisted for the Micro, Small, Medium and Large Employer Apprenticeship Engagement of the Year awards are: Happy Horse Retirement Home, Brecon; Thomas Skip and Plant Hire Ltd, Caernarfon; Harbourmaster Hotel, Aberaeron; A. J. Rees & Sons Ltd (Andrew Rees Butchers), Narberth; Tiny Rebel, Newport; Parry & Evans Limited, Deeside; Bronglais General Hospital, Aberystwyth.

And finalists for Foundation Apprentice (level 2), Apprentice (level 3) and Higher Apprentice (level 4) of the Year awards are; Bethany Morgan, 17, a hotel and hospitality apprentice from the Celtic Manor Resort, Newport; Daniel Carlo, 38, recycling advisor for Bryson Recycling, Conwy; Yasmin Dewse, 28, a chef at Aberystwyth University; Daniel Allen, 26, head chef at Clockworks (Marstons), Swansea; Emma Hooper, 36, chief steward at Compass Group PLC - ESS Defence, Chepstow; Stephen Paul Whiffen, 38, syrup room manager at Radnor Hills, Knighton, and Lorna Morris, 46, owner of Beyond Breakout, Newtown.

The awards will be presented at the International Pavilion on the Royal Welsh Showground, Llanelwedd on March 4.

To be nominated for awards, employers and learners must be engaged with programmes delivered by the company for the Welsh Government.

Held for the fourth time, the awards are designed to celebrate all that is great about training, apprenticeships and skills in Wales. The shortlisted finalists demonstrate the talent pool and range of work-based learning programmes available across Wales.

Katy Godsell, Cambrian Training’s marketing manager, said: “Our awards reward individuals and employers who have excelled in their apprenticeship learning and training programmes that we deliver on behalf of the Welsh Government.

“The awards celebrate the achievements of those who have exceeded expectations during their engagement and commitment to their apprenticeship training and skills programmes. They have shown a unique approach to apprenticeship training and development and demonstrated initiative and enterprise, innovation and creativity.

“We are looking forward to sharing so many wonderful stories at the awards night and recognising those who have excelled throughout Wales.”

Winners of some categories will have the chance to be put forward for the prestigious Apprenticeship Awards Cymru, which are jointly organised by the National Training Federation for Wales and the Welsh Government, in October.

The Apprenticeship Programme is funded by the Welsh Government with support from the European Social Fund.