ANDOVER school-leaver Ryan Foord was among 200 youngsters welcomed to Government as Civil Service Fast Track apprentices by Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg and minister for the Cabinet Office Francis Maude.

Ryan will be working at Army HQ in Andover as a trainee accountant and secured the position whilst studying for his A-levels.

Launched in 2013 the scheme offers 18-to-21- year-olds, who don’t want to go to university, a credible alternative to the civil service graduate fast stream.

They are placed in executive o f f i c e r roles with r e a l responsibility and g enui n e c a r e e r prospects.

Ryan said: “I was initially attracted to the fast track scheme because of the level 4 qualification it was offering.

“All other apprenticeships were only offering level 3 qualifications.

“This route also enables me to become a chartered accountant two years quicker than if I had gone to university and, as someone who learns better by ‘doing’, it was clear that it was the path for me.

“I am very excited to be joining the ranks of the civil service and can’t wait to travel the country and work with all sorts of people across all sorts of disciplines and departments.

“I’d strongly encourage others to follow the route that I have taken.

“This is the best opportunity of my life and even though I’m new to the job I can already tell it was an extremely wise decision and there’s not going to be a moment I regret.”

The apprenticeship scheme is part of the Government’s drive to increase opportunities in the civil service for people of all backgrounds