Accountant Deborah Lillie is number one after scooping a regional training award and being promoted to a new job within her employer's new venture.

The 22 year old from Lobley Hill, Gateshead beat 300 other trainees to be crowned Personal Achiever of the Year by Access, for the commitment and dedication she showed during her Association of Accounting Technicians (AAT) course.

And soon afterwards she was offered the post of Assistant Accountant with Hays Beds - the company's new bed bank which will supply its distribution channels with its own accomodation only product.

The fast expanding, Sunderland based travel firm also recently bought out the property rights of Freedom Direct Holidays Ltd. - after it had called in the receivers - and took on nearly all of the 109 workers who had lost their jobs. Hays now employs 800 staff.

Deborah joined the company as an Apprentice three years ago and is now planning to study for Chartered Institute of Accountants qualifications. She was nominated for the award by her Manager and said,

"I've worked really hard over the past three years in the foreign exchange team, as well as with Access, but I never expected to win this award. I'm over the moon and I'm sure it helped me to secure the new post."

Katie Woods-Ruddick, Training Manager with Hays North East, added,

"We're delighted with Deborah and very pleased with our relationship with Access. We get great support from them and the learners progress well. It is a fantastic way for them to develop as they get the academic knowledge by studying coupled with hands on experience at work."

Access Skills Adviser, Steve Beavis, said,

"Deborah has been one of our training stars and thoroughly deserves the award. I'm pleased the training support we've provided to Hays has been so effective."

Photo: Award Winner, Deborah Lillie with Access Skills Adviser, Steve Beavis.