Rugby international Alastair Kellock has taken time out of his 6 Nations training this week to support six young CR Smith apprentices.

The six apprentice joiners tweeted about life on the job for National Apprenticeship Week (6-10 February) and Alastair tweeted his encouragement.

So far Adam Thomson, Darren McDougall, Euan Minnock, Ross Hazel, Darren Smith and Dudley Hughes have tweeted about fitting roofline and windows, re-blocking a door to get it working, sorting out a customer’s snapped water pipe and - "Happy days first job done and customer is delighted with new door leaf and is making his funeral on time."

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Happy with their career choice, despite the early starts, the six have also been quite focused on the type of breakfast needed to keep them going through the day, from Weetabix to two tuna rolls, two boiled eggs and a cup of tea.

They can be followed on @apprenticesatCR

The initiative is also backed by CR Smith boss, Gerard Eadie CBE who as a great supporter of apprenticeships wants to see more young people take up a trade as a career.

He said: "As a sixteen year old school leaver, an apprenticeship got me working. By the time I was 20, it had also given me my entry into business and means to start my own company. I’ve never doubted the good that it did me.

"I believe that apprenticeships are crucial for future growth. We need a new army of tradesmen to help us out of the current stagnant economy and it is important to teach young people skills that will help build a strong nation and help fuel their personal ambitions."

(GK)