A Somerset teenager has urged young people to consider an apprenticeship as an alternative to higher education, as he prepares to start life as a qualified carpenter.

Cosmo Keene, 18 and from Glastonbury, is due to complete his carpentry apprenticeship with housebuilder Persimmon Homes in June this year after two years of hard graft.

Cosmo said he found school tough and is grateful that the apprenticeship route was open to him.

“I struggled a bit in school so college or university just wouldn’t have been for me,” he said at the start of National Apprenticeship Week.

“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.”

Mountain bike fan Cosmo is currently 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, site manager at Westminster Walk, said: “Cosmo is a little diamond. 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.”

Visit www.persimmonhomes.com/jobs/ for information about forging a career with Persimmon Homes.