An assistant headteacher has spoken of her delight that two ex-students, who were recruited by an award-winning Shrewsbury caravan dealership after they had impressed on school work experience placements, are well on their way to completing an apprenticeship.

Eighteen-year-old Ashley Lutwyche and Daniel Taylor have passed the first stage of their apprenticeship in workshop procedures by completing qualifications in operational services, employment rights and responsibility, Active IQ Leisure certificate and keys skills in mathematics and English.

Both ex-students of Sundorne School and Sports College in Shrewsbury, they are now employed as caravan and motorhome engineers at Salop Leisure.

Their former head of year, Angela Bithell, the school’s assistant headteacher, said she never had any doubt that both students would succeed taking a vocational career route.

“Ashley and Daniel were nice, strong characters with a good work ethic and always showed a flair for going into some kind of vocational qualification,” she said. “They were put on the right career path and made the right choice

“I always like to see our students developing into the world of work and becoming responsible and confident adults. I like to think that the school has played a part in their development.

“Seeing our students succeed is the reason that I do this job and it’s good that businesses still give them opportunities. Credit to Salop Leisure and its chairman Tony Bywater for being so supportive, always believing in the school and giving our students work placements, which give them the opportunities they deserve.”

Mr Bywater, who champions apprenticeships, said: “It has always been the company’s policy to bring young people into the business when they leave school and to offer them apprenticeship opportunities.

“Many of the young people we have employed over the years have progressed into very responsible positions to take our business forward. In addition, they have developed into good citizens and we are very proud of them.”

The number of workshop engineers employed by Salop Leisure has grown from five to 14 in three years due to a major increase in business and the company hopes to take on two more apprentices this year.