AN apprentice who trained with a Redditch recruitment firm says he wants to inspire others to consider apprenticeship schemes after being hired for permanent roles.

Jacob Beard, 21, has completed his apprenticeship and training with recruitment specialist Workforce Staffing, learning about the industry while earning a wage.

Redditch-born Jacob has worked across the company’s various departments over the past three years and has now been placed into a full-time recruitment consultant role at the Church Green West firm.

“The apprenticeship gave me a fantastic grounding in business," he said.

"I had considered going to university to study sport but this way I got straight to work and was being paid from day one.”

Nicky Grogan, from Workforce, said his success should inspire other young people to do apprenticeships.

She said: “Jacob has been a great asset to the company during his apprenticeship and the skills he has developed through our training, combined with the outstanding work ethic he brought with him, meant Jacob was an ideal candidate for a permanent role."