The 21-year-old from East Hunsbury was presented with a trophy as junior apprentice for 2008 as part of the East Midlands Building Services Engineering Training Awards.

Mr Pitts was the only apprentice from outside Nottingham to be honoured at the ceremony in Cropston, near Leicester.

He was accompanied to the ceremony by family members, representatives from Northampton employers Briggs & Forrester and Ray Brookes, a lecturer at Tresham Institute's Wellingborough campus, where Mr Pitts studied on day release.

He received an engraved crystal trophy and framed certificate from Martin Burton, vice-president of the Heating and Ventilating Contractors' Association and a keynote speaker at the ceremony.

Dad Steve Pitts said: "Jamie didn't always find school easy, and this award recognises his determination to make a good career for himself since leaving full-time education.

"He threw himself into adult education and was well supported by Briggs & Forrester.

"He has worked incredibly hard over the past few years and we are very proud of what he has achieved."

Mr Pitts has now left Northampton to take up a position in Portsmouth with BVT Fleet building ships for the Ministry of Defence.