A YOUNG scientist from York has bagged a national award from the Royal Society of Chemistry.

Joe Turton, who works at the Food and Environment Research Agency (FERA) at Sand Hutton, was named Chemical Sciences Apprentice of the Year 2014.

The award recognises individuals who are working towards, or who have completed, an advanced or higher apprenticeship working in the area of chemical science.

Joe travelled to the awards ceremony in Manchester with his family to collect the cash prize, additional funding towards his professional development and a medal.

He said: "The best piece of advice I would give a young person starting their career, whatever that may be, would be to find something that you are really passionate about - for me it was science.

"Then seriously consider it and do some research into whether an apprenticeship offers something for you.

"The most obvious path seemed to be to go to college then on to University, but I bypassed most of this and haven't looked back since."

Joe was 16-years-old and had just left secondary school when he joined Fera as part of the first group of apprentices employed there.

He has now been with Fera for two years and is currently an assistant scientist in the Centre for Chemical Safety and Stewardship – the team responsible for investigating the effects of chemicals, particularly pesticides and veterinary medicines on the environment. Joe’s role is to help determine the effects these chemicals may have on organisms that live in water, such as algae and freshwater shrimp.