A trainee accountant has won an all-expenses paid trip to Paris after being named east London’s Apprentice of the Year by social mobility charity, Leadership Through Sport & Business.

Raheeq Ahmad of Leyton signed up for an apprenticeship scheme for disadvantaged people after deciding university wasn’t for him.

The programme, which helps participants to secure top jobs in business and finance with blue chip companies, saw the 20-year-old go on to land a job at one of the UK’s leading accountancy firms, Grant Thornton.

He was presented with his award by the Lord Mayor of London, Charles Bowman, and LTSB chairman, David Pinchin, in a recent graduation ceremony held in Mansion House, London.

"I hope there is a bright future ahead because it's a great honour to have won and I've been lucky enough to have met some brilliant people on the way,” said Raheeq.

"I didn't grow up in an environment where there are many successful people around and so to win this was truly an amazing experience."

He added: “In my opinion, apprenticeships are the way forward because you get experience and knowledge at the same time.

“My parents wanted me to go to university but when they saw me working at West Ham and then Grant Thornton they understood what I was trying to achieve.

"The important thing was that I came out with a lot of work experience instead of university debts of around £27,000 and no guarantee of a job.”

The initiative - supported by the West Ham Foundation - provides an alternative to university by offering a clear career pathway for 16 to 21-year olds interested in a career in finance.

LTSB encourages the development of leadership skills by arranging for apprentices to lead coaching sessions at the West Ham Foundation, which was a personal highlight for Raheeq.

He spent time coaching children at West Ham FC which he says gave him the “confidence to get out of my comfort zone.”

At the graduation ceremony, the Lord Mayor of London acknowledged the “importance of empowering the next generation.”

LTSB chairman, David Pinchin, praised Raheeq and the rest of the cohort for graduating a programme that transforms “sleepy school leavers to workers ready to hit the ground running."

Mr Pinchin launched LTSB in 2011 after a successful career in the City where he co-founded brokers Tradition Financial Services in 1985.

He said: “I am deeply moved and inspired by what we have achieved over the last six years and am looking forward to the next six with great excitement.

“Our outcomes and impact have been extremely positive and dramatic in many cases. We have over 60 employers but can never have too many.”