Two teenage apprentices at the Telegraph & Argus were last night honoured at a glittering awards ceremony at Bradford College.

Rachel Upham and Nathan Walker, both 19, have been working in the T&A’s marketing and digital media advertising department as part of their BTEC level three advanced media apprenticeship creative and digital media course.

Yesterday they exhibited their work at the Bradford School of Arts and Media summer show and awards night.

Apprenticeship schemes are one way the T&A is supporting its Foundation For Jobs campaign, which we launched earlier this month to bring the issue of unemployment – and, more importantly, employment – to the fore.

We are working with key industry, private sector and public sector organisations and individuals to find ways to create new hope for the future by creating work experience and apprenticeship opportunities for young people.

Rachel joined the company aged 17 in September 2010 and will complete her two-year apprenticeship this September. She said: “I was at college and I needed some work experience, so I did a two-week placement here before being offered an apprenticeship.

“When I started I was going to college for one day a week, but now I work five days. I’ve always been quite creative and I like designing. The job is mostly digital, I create online adverts, upload enhanced listings, complete sales briefs, and create advertising products for sales staff for when they go out on pitches.

“It’s been a great experience for me and when I finish my course I’d like to get a job as a junior designer.”

Nathan is about to complete his first year of the course. During his apprenticeship he has created animations for the T&A, as well as Bradford City posters during the Capital One Cup run and its League Two play-off final.

“Since I’ve started my apprenticeship I’ve learned a lot and have really developed my skills,” he said. “Ever since I was young I’ve been into pencil drawing, but now I’ve learnt more about using programmes like Photoshop.

“I’ve learnt a lot about how the creative industry works, as well as the workplace.”

Linda Ralph, Newsquest regional HR and development manager, said: “Nathan and Rachel are part of the team and it’s been a fantastic opportunity for them to learn great new skills.

“We are preparing them for work and whether they continue to work here or outside of the business, they are going away with plenty of experience.”

Linda has also been lending her experience to another young person, Sharon Bains, through the Chartered Institute of Personal Development’s pilot Steps Ahead mentoring programme.

She has spent an hour a week, over six weeks, to help Sharon start a career in television production. She said: “She was very keen to work in the media, especially in the television production side of things. We looked at her work experience and she decided to apply for the BBC production talent pool. After a three stage application process she has been selected from more than 4,000 applicants.

“She had a lot of work experience, but I helped her find a focus – to work out what work experience would be useful. She’s a very busy person, but she needed to channel that into something productive. I was someone she could bounce ideas off and support her.

“The hard work has paid off and I’m confident she’s going to have an absolutely amazing career.”