The country’s top journalism students and trainee reporters will be honoured in person at an event that will also reunite trainers and editors for the first time in two years.

The National Council for the Training of Journalists has announced its Awards for Excellence will be held in-person this year.

The ceremony is usually held as part of the Journalism Skills Conference, which normally takes place in November, but the coroanvirus pandemic had led to awards being handed out virtually.

The ceremony, to be held on Thursday 17 March, will follow a seminar for centres delivering NCTJ-accredited courses and their industry advisers.

The seminar will allow NCTJ course leaders to meet one another for the first time in two years, and to discuss the latest developments in journalism training

It will take place at Hallé St Peter’s, pictured, in the Ancoats area of Manchester.

Joanne Butcher, chief executive of the NCTJ, said: “We can’t wait to see everyone in Manchester in March.

“After everything we’ve all been through over the last two years, it will be wonderful to get together to celebrate the success of the new generation of emerging journalism talent and to recognise the brilliant work of our journalism educators and trainers.

“Special thanks to all our media industry partners for making this possible and the Hallé for the use of their fantastic rehearsal and recording studios.”

Some 67 students, trainees, apprentices, journalists and training providers are on the awards shortlist, which was announced in December.

Both events will be available to book here on Monday 31 January from 9am.