A Bradford-based business has seen one of its employees win a prestigious award.

Carl Hepworth, 24, who works at Bradford-based Expect Distribution, was named Rising Star of the Year at Palletline's annual awards.

He beat thousands of competitors to win the award from the freight distribution network, of which Expect Distribution is a founder shareholding member.

Mr Hepworth, of Huddersfield, was presented with his award at a ceremony at the five-star Celtic Manor Hotel in Newport, Wales.

Originally interested in a career in finance, Mr Hepworth changed direction after an encounter with the Novus scheme, which provides guest lectures, mentoring, and other student services within the logistics field.

For a third-year placement during his degree in Logistics and Supply Chain Management, he joined Expect Distribution.

Reminiscing on the placement, which took place during the COVID-19 pandemic, Mr Hepworth said: "I was doing all kinds of things such as dealing with depot queries, driver queries, directing drivers to collection points and delivery areas.

" It gave me a really good insight and a good grounding."

Mr Hepworth returned to Expect Distribution after completing his final year at university.

He has since become an expert on the 150-page Palletline company charter, with colleagues at Expect and Palletline alike calling on his expertise.