THE head boy at Haslingden High School has secured a school leaver apprenticeship with a leading accountancy firm.

Jamie Taylor was given the position by firm KPMG, who will pay the student’s four-year accountancy course fees and accommodation at Exeter University and employ him when he is not studying.

The 18-year-old, from Haslingden, went through a rigorous online application process, first interview and then delivered a presentation before he secured the place.

He said: “I am looking forward to it as I have always been interested in business.

“My grandad saw the advert in a newspaper and I decided to apply.

“I start my degree in September and will complete three months at the university and then three months working.

“After the full four years I will work for a further two years and do more accountancy exams with the company.

“There were just 150 school leaver places across the country and I am very lucky to have been awarded one as the programme was heavily oversubscribed.”