A HUMBIE-BASED business is celebrating after one of its apprentices was crowned Modern Apprentice of the Year at the Lantra Scotland Awards.

Noble Grounds Care revealed that Ross Rutherford, an apprentice landscape gardener, also won the Horticulture category.

Mr Rutherford was recognised for his exceptional skills and work as a landscaping apprentice over the past two years.

He said: "It's an honour to be recognised by Lantra's ALBAS '24 awards, especially as the quality of the other finalists in my category was so high.

East Lothian Courier: He completed his SVQ Level 2 last year and is now pursuing the Level 3 certification

"I would like to thank Noble Grounds Care for giving me the opportunity to work in this sector.

"I changed career during the pandemic, which was a major move, and winning these awards proves it was the right move for me."

Mr Rutherford, who is from Mayfield, worked on gardens across Edinburgh, from private homes to schools, and facilities like Torness Power Station as part of his apprenticeship.

He completed his SVQ Level 2 last year and is now pursuing the Level 3 certification.

Alex Noble, director of Noble Grounds Care, said: “We’re thrilled to see Ross recognised.

“He brings enthusiasm to every project, and this is well deserved.

"As a local small business, we take pride in developing our apprentices to build a talented team.”