THREE teenagers are among a handful of students to be chosen for a prestigious internship scheme which aims to raise young people’s aspirations.

Students Naeem Valli, Adam Hopley and Rizwan Adam hope that the internship at Lloyds TSB, the first of its kind, will provide them with a springboard for a career in business or finance.

The Blackburn College students have just started a six-week programme to train as cashiers for the firm.

The bank has set up the internship alongside Career Academies UK, a national charity that supports schools and colleges to raise aspirations of 16 to 19-year-olds by breaking down the barriers between academic and vocational study.

The paid internship is part of a two-year programme for young people who are progressing well at school but would not usually have such opportunities.

Naeem, 19, Rizwan and Adam, both 17, were selected out of a group at Blackburn College, which runs two Career Academy schemes.

Only 11 students from London and the North West were chosen for the internship in Lloyds TSB branches in London and Manchester.

Naeem, who has just finished his first year studying for business studies, economics and law A levels, said: “It was quite a gruelling three-week selection process, we had to give several presentations and go through interviews so I was pleased to be chosen.”

He began his internship last week at the King Street branch in Manchester.

The customer-facing training covers all aspects of the cashier’s role from customer relations at the welcome desk to handling financial transactions over the counter.

Naeem, who lives in Bicknell Street, Blackburn, with his parents and two younger brothers, has also been given a mentor, from international finance firm Bank of New York Mellon.

He said: “It’s already given me an excellent insight into how big multinational companies work, and I’ve really enjoyed it so far.”

The former Pleckgate High and St Michael with St John Primary pupil added: “I’m not sure exactly what I’d like to do yet but I know it will be business-related, so I hope this will be a real boost when I apply to university in September.”

Adam, from Ewood, who is studying for A-levels in accounts, business, economics and maths, said: “This was the one internship I really wanted, because I have a genuine interest in finance and business and would like a career in it.”

Adam, who went to Rishton Methodist Primary and Norden High School, is working at the Bolton Lloyds TSB branch alongside Rizwan.