REGULAR visitors to the Mercury's office in Great Yarmouth will have become acquainted with a new face working behind the reception counter.Chloe Stringer, 16 this weekend, of Trafalgar Road West, Gorleston has been welcoming customers to the King Street office since being offered an apprenticeship with the Mercury's parent company Archant Norfolk in July.

REGULAR visitors to the Mercury's office in Great Yarmouth will have become acquainted with a new face working behind the reception counter.

Chloe Stringer, 16 this weekend, of Trafalgar Road West, Gorleston has been welcoming customers to the King Street office since being offered an apprenticeship with the Mercury's parent company Archant Norfolk in July.

The teenager joined the company after completing her GCSE exams at Lynn Grove High School in Gorleston because she wanted to experience the world of work rather than continuing to learn in a classroom environment.

She said: “I didn't want to go to college. I just wanted to do something different because I have had 11 years of working in a classroom from books.”

If she successfully completes her 14-month apprenticeship she will receive an NVQ Level 2 Technical Certificate in Business Administration, which she said would help her fulfil her ambition of becoming a PA.

“When I get a job, the employers can see the college students have got the grades, but I can say I have got the experience of working for a company,” she added.

During her time with Archant, the former Wroughton Middle School pupil's performance will be evaluated by staff to fulfil the criteria for the NVQ, including how she uses the telephone system, operates the office equipment and deals with customers.

Chloe, who lives with mum and dad Diane and Cliff, and brother Joe, 18, secured the apprenticeship after enrolling on a YMCA training scheme.

She added: “I am overjoyed. I hope it is going to be a stepping stone towards achieving my future career goals.”

Colin Huggins, general manager with Archant Weeklies, welcomed Chloe's appointment and was pleased to be able to offer work to a school leaver.

He said: “I am really excited by it and I think she is a great appointment to the Archant team. We are working with the YMCA to help people start or get back into work and it is the first apprenticeship taken on board by Archant.

“From our point of view, it is good to be able to get somebody in her position into work.”