Apprentice of year dedicated to learning

A JOB with Sir Alan Sugar was not on offer, but the competition for this year's apprentice of the year award was just as stiff.

Nearly 30 apprentices were nominated for the College of Further Education award, and all received glowing recommendations from their employers.

There were six runners-up and 24-year-old Agostinho Helder Gois beat off strong competition to take the title.

Mr Gois (pictured), who works as a chef at the Fermain Valley Hotel, received high praise from college principal Trevor Wakefield.

'His commitment is second to none and he works something like 80 hours a week.

'When he has a day off, he works somewhere else for the experience. He just works to learn and absorbs information. I've never met anyone who has such a desire to learn,' he said.

Mr Gois, who moved to Guernsey six years ago from Madeira, said the States apprenticeship scheme had changed his life.

'When I first came here all I used to do was wash plates and now I am a chef de partie.'

In his free time and holidays Mr Gois has done work experience at Victor Hugo's Boulangerie, Christophe's, and Oatlands, among others.