BURNLEY MP Gordon Birtwistle has hailed the achievements of two young people who have secured full-time posts through a training centre based in the town.

Tahura Begum worked as a receptionist and administrator at Reedley Hallows Children’s Centre, part of the Barden Lane campus, thanks to the centre and Courtney Kenyon, was employed at the Hourglass Cafe, at the Time Centre in Simonstone.

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Both were delighted to be offered a permanent position after working with Burnley Telematics Centre and their mentors.

Tahura said: “I am really happy to be working at the children’s centre and appreciate the opportunity, Burnley Telematics, has given me.”

And Courtney was happy with the customer service skills she developed through her workplace assessor.

She said: “After school I needed a job with wages but didn’t want to miss out on getting more qualifications. This apprenticeship was the ideal way to do that.”

Mr Birtwistle, the government’s apprenticeships ambassador, congratulated the two young women on their permanent roles and praised Burnley Telematics for the work they had embarked on to assist the pair.

Mr Birtwistle said: “Tahura and Courtney have done very well and show the value of apprenticeships to young people.

“With so many more apprentices in Burnley now than there were in 2010, we should see more and more of them graduating into employment. This is good for the young people, good for local businesses, and good for Burnley and Padiham.”

The MP said youth unemployment had fallen by 42 per cent over the past five years and he wanted to work to ensure the trend continued in future.

Ejaz Hussain, managing director of Burnley Telematics, said: “I am delighted at the outcome of these apprenticeships for Tahura and Courtney. It clearly demonstrates the benefits of the scheme, both to young people and employers.

Mr Hussain was appointed as an advisor to Mr Birtwistle, by business secretary Vince Cable, after a visit to their Daneshouse Road premises last February.

The teleworking training centre, which opened in 1999 and was originally based in Elm House, also offers a number of e-courses and English qualifications as a second language.