An apprentice has won an award while training with a company set up by a former student at his college.

Nathan Goodson-Watts, 19, a plumbing apprentice at Nescot College in Ewell, won the Wates Cup at the Surrey County Apprentices Awards.

Mr Goodson-Watts, from Epsom, is working with Direct Heating Solutions, a Kingston-based company set up by former Nescot apprentice Charles Watson.

He said: "I knew I’d been nominated but I didn’t think I’d win, so it was a really good surprise.

"They told me I’d won because of the standard of my work, but also my work ethic and attitude, so that means a lot and I feel really proud."

He hopes to one day set up his own business and is interested in specialising in renewable energy.

Mr Watson, who did a plumbing apprenticeship at Nescot in 2002, said: "It’s hard to find your first job, particularly at the moment, so I wanted to give someone the same chance that someone gave me when I was 17, and I definitely don’t regret it."

The annual apprenticeship awards are organised by young people’s charity SATRO.