A KEIGHLEY company has taken on its second apprentice through a pioneering scheme.

Braithwaite teenager Matty Maggs has joined Viking Industrial Products via the Apprenticeship Training Agency (ATA).

The 18-year-old – who is working towards a customer services apprenticeship level-two diploma – is following in the footsteps of Luke Summers, who joined the firm through the same route a year ago.

Matty, a former pupil of Holy Family School in Keighley, said: "This is a real opportunity for me as I wanted a step up on my career path and was determined to learn valuable new skills.

"I'm already enhancing my customer service skills by dealing with people both over the phone and online."

Melanie Bennett – operations director at Viking, a distributor of tapes, adhesives and abrasives – said the apprenticeship scheme was proving hugely successful.

"Luke has done really well and has now been employed full-time," she said. "He's blossomed and is set to complete his training in April.

"Like Luke, Matty has been taken on for an initial 12-month programme. He has already brought in new IT skills and has quickly learned to process orders both over the telephone and online, as well as adapting to other office-related admin tasks.

"He is progressing very nicely and has fast become a valued member of the team."

ATA, part of the Get Bradford Working programme, encourages businesses to take on apprentices and matches them with suitable training providers.

Its chief executive, Kate Dallas-Wood, said: "We remain fully committed to assisting companies like Viking to identify and recruit keen and talented young people and help the apprentices get a foot on that all-important first rung of the employment ladder."

Councillor Susan Hinchcliffe, Bradford Council's executive member for employment, skills and culture, said over 1,000 people had so far found employment through the Get Bradford Working initiative.

"We want to let people know that there remains some excellent apprenticeship opportunities across the district," she added.