An apprentice from University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust (UHB) is aiming for the top in more ways than one after being shortlisted for a leading award.

Two other members of staff will be representing the Trust’s Learning and Development Department at the Health Education West Midlands NHS Apprenticeship Recognition Awards 2014 on Thursday 23 October 2014.

Anton Bayliss is in the running for the Non-Clinical Apprentice of the Year Level 2 (intermediate) award at the event, which takes place at Edgbaston Stadium, the home of Warwickshire County Cricket Club.

Anton will be joined by fellow UHB apprentice Rukea Begum and Learning and Development Assessor Melissa Glynn, who helped design the awards evening.

Anton was nominated as apprentice of the year by his manager Phil Haines.

Learning and Development Manager Karen Jameson said: “Anton was nominated because of the exceptional progress he has made and his contribution and can do attitude to the Learning and Development Team.

“Melissa and Rukea are both going to be recognised for the work they have done for the programme, and because they have actively been involved with Health Education West Midlands (HEWM) in planning the event and sharing their ideas.”

Anton, aged 22, from Selly Oak, said: “I was really flattered to be nominated and it was a pleasant surprise, and somewhat unexpected, to be shortlisted.”

After leaving Bishop Challoner RC School in Kings Heath at the age of 16, Anton went on to study sociology, psychology, politics and statistics at Cadbury 6th Form College and Bournville College.

He then became self-employed in a variety of roles, ranging from repairing satellite dishes to working in pubs.

But he added: “I wanted to change what I was doing in my career and thought that becoming an apprentice at UHB was the best way of getting experience and moving further through the organisation.

“You can work in a lot of different areas with the Trust.”

In fact, Anton, who joined the UHB apprenticeship scheme in November 2013, spent his first few weeks in Infomatics and has since worked in various other departments before recently joining the Postgraduate Centre.

Melissa said that she and Rukea, who also finishes her apprenticeship in December 2014, had helped design the format of the awards evening after being invited by HEWM to join their design team.

A spokesman for HEWM said the first ever NHS Apprenticeship Recognition Awards are designed to “celebrate our stars of the future and recognise the value that apprentices bring to our workplaces.

“The number and quality of the nominations received for the awards has exceeded all expectations and made the judging process extremely difficult for those involved.”