DURING National Apprenticeship Week (February 8 until 14), one young man from Glastonbury is encouraging students to consider this alternative path.

Cosmo Keene, 18, is due to complete his carpentry apprenticeship with housebuilder Persimmon Homes after working hard for the last two years.

He said for him, school was tough and he was pleased there was another option.

“I struggled a bit in school so college or university just wouldn’t have been for me,” he said.

“I always knew I wanted to be carpenter. My dad was a carpenter and I helped him build the house we now live in, so that was an amazing experience.

“I’d definitely recommend the apprenticeship route. It’s given me an excellent grounding, solid training - and some money in my pocket while doing so.”

Cosmo is working four days a week at Persimmon’s Westminster Walk site in Bridgwater and studying from home one day a week.

“I found it tough at first because I was only 16,” admitted Cosmo. “But I soon grew in confidence with the support of site managers.

“It’s been a great experience. I’d like to thank Persimmon. Apprenticeships are a great opportunity for people who don’t want to go to further education.”

Glyn Lewis, who is site manager at Westminster Walk, said Cosmo has done an "excellent" job.

“Cosmo is a little diamond," he added.

"He is excellent at what he does, applies himself to whatever is thrown at him and completes the work very professionally.

“The carpenters he works with always speak very highly of him. He shows great promise and I’m sure he has a fantastic career ahead of him.”