EAST Lancashire teenager Ben Farnhill is already climbing the career ladder -- just 12 months into his job with a Blackburn based company.

Ben, 17, from Shadsworth, Blackburn, was recruited to the town's Muschamp Machine Services as a warehouse operative through ELTEC's XTEND training programme.

And Ben, who is guided by the programme, a local training provider and Training 2000 has now been given extra responsibilities so as well as working towards an NVQ level two in distribution and warehousing, he is also working towards a level two in business administration. General manager Ian Garbett said: "Ben is a real asset to the company. His attitude to work is exemplary and he is always willing to learn new skills to meet the needs of the business.

"As a small business the training and support Ben receives through the XTEND programme is extremely useful and something we could not necessarily afford without ELTEC's help.

"It ensures his skills are up to date and relevant to his job as well as helping to bring new ideas into the company."

Ben, a former pupil at Blackburn's Our Lady and St John RC High School in North Road, is enjoying his work at the company, which supplies textile machine parts to organisations across the world.

He said: "I heard about XTEND at school and since joining I haven't looked back.

"The best thing is that I am able to gain valuable experience of work doing a job I enjoy while at the same time as achieving high level qualifications."