A TEENAGER is celebrating after securing an apprenticeship with a debt collection agency.

Theresa Divers, from Culcheth, has been appointed as an apprentice administration assistant with Salford-based Cerberus Receivables Management.

Company director Christine Greenhalgh said: “Theresa is a very welcome addition to our team, and we’re especially pleased to be bucking the trend when it comes to recruitment in what are these unprecedented times.

“We’re told that the pandemic has brought about a 50 per cent decline in UK apprenticeships, which is such as shame when you think about the huge pool of bright, ambitious and new young talent out there just like Theresa.

“Build the Future is the theme for this week’s National Apprentice Week, the 14th ever to be held, and that’s exactly what we’re doing here at CRM.

“Theresa’s apprenticeship will be for 18 months.

“During this time, with our support, she will achieve her formal City and Guilds qualification.

“We’ll also be providing her with additional training and continuing professional development opportunities and supporting her career progression within our team.

“Our commitment is most definitely long term.”

Theresa, 18, added: “I was so keen to get real life, hands-on professional services experience after completing my A-Levels and I’m really pleased to have been taken on by CRM.

“The company is professional, agile and at the top of its game and I’ve learned so much already – the practical day-to-day experience really supports my classroom-based learning, and I’m really looking forward to what the next year and a half has in store for me not to mention the great foundations it builds for my career.”