LOCAL youngsters looking to improve their employment opportunities will benefit from a partnership between Parklands Leisure Centre and one of the UK's leading training providers in the fitness and active leisure sector.

The centre has teamed up with Lifetime to offer apprenticeship programmes to 16 to 18-year-olds in Okehampton.

The first to benefit is Tim Doidge, an 18-year-old taken on as a leisure apprentice.

Jon Smith, contract manager at Parklands, said: 'We are very proud to offer Tim the opportunity to work in our centre.

'The apprenticeship will give him a chance to get a foot on the career ladder, and we are proud to be giving something back to our local community. We hope Tim is the first of many.'

The apprenticeship will enable Tim to develop new skills and knowledge relevant to the workplace while being mentored by experienced trainers.

'He will also receive a level 2 NVQ certificate in Active Leisure, Learning and Wellbeing Operational Services, alongside a number of other qualifications.

No experience or previous qualifications are required for the role of leisure apprentice, but any applicant does need to be able to swim, dive to the bottom of the pool and climb out of the pool unaided in order to be able to excel as a lifeguard, which is part of the role.

For further details on the apprenticeship programmes, call the centre on 01837 659154.