The future looked bleak for Ryan Holdstock and Ashley Parsons when they had to leave mainstream education.But they now have a much brighter future thanks to their own hard work and the support of local training provider, Zone For learning in Thetford.

The future looked bleak for Ryan Holdstock and Ashley Parsons when they had to leave mainstream education.

But they now have a much brighter future thanks to their own hard work and the support of local training provider, Zone For learning in Thetford.

Ryan and Ashley joined the Elm Road Pupil Referral Unit who referred them on to ZFL where they both found they had untapped skills in painting and decorating.

Under the guidance of their tutor Richard King, they have both shone in the decorating workshop and they were nominated for awards with the Big Skills Awards scheme, a national awards programme which recognises achievements for outstanding efforts.

Having been shortlisted, the students were invited to the awards ceremony at Dunston Hall, Norwich arriving by limousine.

Both were successful with Ashley being awarded year nine student of the year and Ryan was became student of the year 2009.

Peddars Way Housing Association's area manager Andy Moulton said: “We all need an opportunity some time in our lives at some point. Peddars Way and ZFL have given Ashley and Ryan their chance and it's great to see that they have grabbed this and succeeded.

Both Ryan and Adam are now preparing to start college in September and are looking hard to find an apprenticeship.

ZFL director Dave Southwell said: “Ryan is a fantastic example of our belief that past performance is not a sign of potential, he has worked incredibly hard and fully deserves his award.” He went on to say “Ryan would be a tremendous asset to any employer and has already shown he has a healthy work ethic by carrying out decorating jobs for friends and relations. His achievement is also a tremendous tribute to the work put in by his tutor Richard King.”

ZFL can be contacted on 01842 821692 or by visiting the website at www.zoneforlearning.co.uk.