A Norwich teenager who cut short a career in hairdressing to pursue an apprenticeship is celebrating after gaining a nationally recognised qualification in optical retail.
Ellena Riches beat stiff competition to gain a place on the Vision Express apprenticeship scheme.
A 13-month programme which is managed and delivered by in-house experts, the scheme is equivalent to five GCSEs and was launched at the company in 2014.
Now, after qualifying with a Level 2 Intermediate Apprenticeship in Health, specialising in optical retail, the 17-year-old has been offered a permanent position in the optician's Norwich store, as an optical assistant.
Ms Riches said: 'Before joining the Vision Express apprenticeship scheme I had no direction in life and I wasn't enjoying the hairdressing course I was doing at college. Now that I've graduated I can honestly say that the apprenticeship was good, there was lots to learn and every day was different.'
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here