TEENAGER Ryan Sharp is cultivating a new career thanks to a training programme.

Ryan has secured a job with Samlesbury-based Ashgrove Nursery through the XTEND programme for school leavers.

As well as working at the firm, which supplies plants and shrubs to the landscaping industry, 16-year-old Ryan is working towards an NVQ in horticulture at Myerscough College near Preston.

"My ambition is to set up my own landscaping business," said Ryan.

"The practical hands-on experience I'm getting and the qualifications I can achieve are sowing the seeds I need to help my achieve my goal."

The XTEND programme, run by ELTEC, others young people employment and training to at least NVQ level 4.

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