A firm of financial advisers has taken on two new members of staff. 
Apprentice Sam Francis impressed his employers at Birkett Long in Colchester so much, they offered him a permanent job as a financial services administration assistant. 
The 18-year-old joined the apprenticeship scheme as an office administrator and gained an NVQ Level 2 in business admin in a year. 
Mr Francis, who grew up in Basildon, is now aiming to become a trainee paraplanner and will now study for a diploma in regulated financial planning. 
The firm has also hired David Heaton as financial planning manager across all three offices in Colchester, Chelmsford and Basildon. 
Mr Heaton, who has 25 years industry experience, previously worked at the Royal Bank of Scotland, Lloyds Banking Group and Sun Life.