A Falkirk engineering company had such a positive experience with its first apprentices in years, it recruited another to the fold.

Outreach Ltd employed two new engineering apprentices last year and were so impressed by their young team-mates' enthusiasm and thirst for knowledge, they employed a third just last month.

Calum Stewart, now 20, from Bo'ness, joined Outreach Ltd last year on a four-year apprenticeship in Mechanical Engineering and Cameron Langslow, also 20, from Lennoxtown, undertook a four-year apprenticeship in Electrical Engineering.

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They have now been joined by 16-year-old former work experience student Darren Ross from Carronshore, who is on a three-year Modern Apprenticeship in Fabrication and Welding.

As part of their apprenticeships, all three will attend Forth Valley College on a day release basis.

Gary Potts, sales and marketing managing director, said the young men were "great assets" to Outreach.

He said: "Like most employers, we are very much aware of the current economic climate and we wanted to help young people in some small way, so we decided to restart our apprenticeship programme. It's been one of the best business decisions we have made in the last year. These apprentices have proven to be great assets to our company. Their thirst for knowledge is undeniable and their enthusiasm is infectious. Our message to all employers out there is that today's young people have a lot to offer so give them a chance and you will reap the benefits as a business too."

Photograph: (L-R) Derek Payne, Managing Director - Operations, Darren Ross, Cameron Langslow, Calum Stewart and Gary Potts, Managing Director - Sales & Marketing.

(NE)