An award has been given to a Wickwar company's first apprentice in more than 20 years.

Ryan Cox, who works for Majorlift and studies at Gloucestershire Engineering Training (GET), has been awarded a Higher National Diploma in mechanical engineering.

The qualification is the culmination of eight years of study for Ryan, the last six of which he has been employed by the hydraulic lifting equipment company while studying one day a week with GET.

Managing director of Majorlift, Tristram Southgate, said: "It has been a real pleasure to work with Ryan and seem him develop into a first-class engineer.

"He has grown in confidence too, and this has been recognised by Ryan being appointed as our Quality Engineer, working on product and process improvement and tapping into his education to help Majorlift improve.

"We like working with GET – they understand the requirements both of the educational system but also what employer need, so after a full year at GET in Barnwood, our students come into the business, ready to work and knowing what’s expected of them.”

Ryan was also runner up in the national apprentice of the year competition a few years ago and hsi younger brother, Tom, is following him through the apprentice programme and is currently in his third year at GET.

For more information about Majorlift visit majorlift.com