A chartered insurance broker with a Newport company was runner up at the Vocational Qualifications Awards in Wales.

Paul Wiggins was one of six finalists in the running to become VQ Learner of the Year at the showpiece awards ceremony at St David’s Hotel, Cardiff.

The award recognises learners who clearly demonstrate progression and excellence in vocational studies and have made considerable achievements in their field.

Organised by the Welsh Government’s Department for Education and Skills, the National Training Federation for Wales and CollegesWales, the VQ Awards help to showcase individuals and organisations that have raised the standard of the services they offer as a result of vocational qualifications.

Paul is a firm believer in leading by example. Working for BPW Insurance, he began his apprenticeship in general insurance in November 2011 and completed it within 12 months, passing all the required exams first time.

His next goal was an advanced diploma in insurance and to become a chartered insurance broker, which he achieved in two years instead of the standard five years.

Acorn Learning Solutions Ltd provides training support for BPW Insurance and nominated Paul for the VQ Young Learner of the Year Award.

Paul was named the CII ‘Young Achiever of the Year’ for 2014/2015 and also won one of 10 national places on the CII’s ‘New Generation Programme’.

The VQ Learner of the Year winner was former Coleg Sir Gar learner Simon McCall, 21, from Capel Dewi, a self-employed carpenter and member of the WorldSkills UK Squad. The other runners up were: The other runners up were Casey Coleman, 28, salon artistic director at Ocean Hairdressing, Cardiff whose training provider is Gower College Swansea, James Pepper, 39, technical services director at Vista Retail Support Ltd, Pentwyn, Cardiff, whose training provider is Acorn Learning Solutions and former Bridgend College learners Michael Whippey, 23, chief instructor at Shardeloes Farm Equestrian Centre, Amersham and Serena Torrance, 23, of Maesteg who is taking a criminology degree at Cardiff University.