For Kate Bishop and Josh Dolbel, both employees for Gunnedah's Enchanted on Conadilly, their nominations came as a welcome surprise.

Both have completed their respective courses in half the time allocation for completion and have been nominated for the School-Based Trainee of The Year Award and Apprentice of The Year Awards.

Kate has finished her Cert 3 in Retail, and currently in Year 12, says she was thrilled to be chosen.

"I was pretty happy, pretty excited that they chose me out of heaps of people doing the same courses.

"The fact they could see what I've learned - I thought it was exciting."

With future plans to run her own floristry business, this award nomination has helped her stay motivated as her studies move online.

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"I think it's a great opportunity for school students to learn, and I think they can do a lot, and figure out what they will do with their life.

"Having such a great workplace to do it, we do so much, sell so much, so being able to use aspects of my learning and put them into play is fantastic."

For Josh, he came to do his flooring technology course arising from a need in his family's business.

And by all accounts, he is really good at what he does.

"It's been different," he explained.

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"But it will be good once the lock-down ends and I can start."

Josh has already had is interview for the awards, and Kate is set to have her virtual interview on Monday.

The announcement of the winners will come later in the year.

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