STAFF at a business support agency are cracking open the champagne after receiving awards for their hard work.

Business Link West Mercia - the new business support agency for Worcestershire, Herefordshire and Shropshire - saw two of its employees rewarded at a prize-giving celebration which was hosted by the Worcestershire Group Training Association.

Hannah Grant-Parkes rec-eived her Certificate of Achievement for attaining NVQ Level 3 in customer service and Lydia Dudley received her Certificate of Achievement for attaining NVQ Level 2 in business administration.

The two members of staff were presented with their awards by BBC Midlands Today newsreader Nick Owen at Worcester Rugby Club.

Nineteen-year-old Miss Dudley, attended Worcester Business College every Wednesday for more than a year to gain the qualification.

"It's great to have your achievement recognised," she said. "I like working towards things because it gives you a focus and the work I'm doing in my job goes towards the NVQ so it's useful to be able to apply what I learn at college in my job."

Hannah Grant-Parkes, aged 23, is a client account manager for Business Link West Mercia and is the first point-of-call for businesses looking for help and advice.

"It's the third qualification I've completed since I started working for Business Link in 1998 and it's definitely increased my job satisfaction," she said.

"It'll help me carry out my job better as it's given me a better insight into the world of effective customer service."