Former Hardenhuish School pupil Michael Swift is confident about finding a job despite the current economic climate, thanks to a course with The Prince’s Trust.

The 18-year-old, who lives in Southmead in Chippenham, completed the course, entitled Get Into Heritage Construc-tion, after he was lost his job as a trainee plumber last October.

He said: “I got laid off from the plumbing job, which I really enjoyed, because there wasn’t enough work. I had been looking for work ever since.”

Then though the help of the youth advisory service Connexions Mr Swift heard about the two week Prince’s Trust course in London. It has given him the qualification he needs to work on a building site as well as experience in stone masonry where there is a skills shortage.

He said: “Now I have done the course I feel a lot more confident that I will be able to get a job on a building site, like I have wanted to do since I was at school.

“The course really built up my confidence and social skills, something that will really help when I have interviews.”

Figures released last week show that the percentage of unemployed 18 to 24 year olds in north Wiltshire has risen by 205 per cent with calls to The Prince’s Trust helpline rising by over 50 per cent.

The trust’s South West director, Sue Porto, said: “Our region’s most vulnerable youngsters will be permanently damaged by the downturn, unless they receive support. Only with their ideas and creativity will we be able to pull ourselves out of the recession.”