11 September 2006

It was announced today that Wayne Tuff from Stocktrade has been named Scotland's outstanding young practical learner in the Edge Employer Awards 2006, winning a prize of £2,000. Through his excellent work at the stockbrokers, Wayne battled it out to win the accolade and will now go through to the national finals to be held later this year. Edge is an independent foundation dedicated to raising the desirability and status of vocational and practical learning among 14 - 24 year olds of all levels of ability.

Wayne started in a junior administrative role at Stocktrade at 16. A prestigious regional judging panel chose Wayne because of his impressive rise from junior assistant to a position in the Private Client department, and his valuable work in developing procedures for future trainees. He has also furthered his career through active learning in the company's post graduation programme (despite leaving school at 16), and has passed the first of three industry exams.

The Edge Employer Awards rewards organisations that provide outstanding learning opportunities for 14-25 year-olds and in 2006 is also rewarding individuals for their learning achievements. This year Edge is awarding £300,000 to employers that provide quality apprenticeships, excellent work placements and other practical learning opportunities.

Wayne Tuff said,

"I am really pleased to have won this award. I've learnt so much over the past four years with Stocktrade but I never expected to win the £2,000 prize. It's proven a wonderful decision for me to take this route as I'm sure it would for many others."

Andy Powell, CEO at Edge, said

"Edge is delighted to award this prize to Wayne Tuff. He has worked incredibly hard and has achieved so much. Wayne has really shown that hands-on learning is good for employers and employees alike. This is a great example of the good work we want to shine a spotlight on."

Mike Graham, CEO Stocktrade, said

“We are all very proud of Wayne’s remarkable achievement, amazing for someone so young. He is making a great contribution to the business and is an inspiration to all our younger recruits.”

Wayne will be attending the awards ceremony held in London on 28th November to discover whether he has become a national winner. Journalists are invited to attend the awards ceremony at London's Camden Roundhouse. The celebrity national judging panel, which includes Simon Woodroffe, the founder of YO! Sushi and of Dragons' Den fame and Alexandra Amosu, founder of R&B Ringtones, will also be attending. www.edgeawards.co.uk

Photos are available on request

For more information please contact:

• Robert Irving, Director, Stocktrade
  Telephone: 0131 240 0400
  Email: robert.irving@stocktrade.co.uk

Notes to Editors:

About Stocktrade

1. Stocktrade is the Execution-only division of Brewin Dolphin Securities Ltd., the largest independent portfolio manager and stockbroker in the UK. Brewin Dolphin has 35 offices around the UK and manages £19 billion on behalf private investors, and employs nearly 1500 people.
2. Stocktrade has been establishing new standards in stockbroking and customer services since 1993. On 30th November 1998 Stocktrade was the first broker in the UK to offer on-line equity trading to private investors and in February 2000 it launched SpeechTrade™, the UK’s first automatic voice activated stock price quoting service.
3. As an execution-only broker, Stocktrade deals and settles transactions for investors who make their own decisions, it does not offer investment advice. Stocktrade provides a range of trading facilities including on-line, by telephone or by post, to both private and corporate investors. A new specialty is providing dealing services for clients’ SIPPs.
4. Stocktrade is based in Edinburgh.

About Edge

EDGE is an independent foundation dedicated to raising the status and desirability of vocational and practical learning among 14-24-year-olds of all levels of ability.

1. EDGE believes in ensuring specific and defined routes exist for success through vocational learning at all relevant education levels.
2. EDGE wants to see vocational qualifications valued and desired by all, particularly: students, teachers, parents and employers
3. EDGE wants to see different routes to success through vocational learning invested in by educators and supported by industry.
4. EDGE also encourages academic success but is primarily concerned with raising the status and desirability of vocational learning.