A BRIDGWATER firm is helping a young student from the town gain vital experience before the world of work beckons.

Food packaging firm Sharp Interpack is supporting Bridgwater-born James Holliday, 20, through an apprenticeship scheme.

This enables the NVQ Level 4 electrical engineering student to gain real workplace experience while he works towards a place at university.

James said: "I'm really enjoying my time at Sharp, I work with the electrical team on a daily basis.

"The team gives me hands-on technical training which is helping me get my skills up to scratch. Each day I learn something new."

Sharp started the apprenticeship scheme after identifying a trainee engineers shortage.

Operations director Karl Brown selected James for the scheme and oversees his progress.

He said: "James is a credit to himself and the company.

"He is focused and this is reflected in his high academic achievements and the quality of work he completes here.

"As an employer, we look for new talent and we are certain the investment we have made in James will pay off as he becomes a talented electrical engineer and hopefully comes back to join our team after graduating."