TWO young joiners at Langley Furniture Works have picked up prestigious awards for outstanding performance.

Apprentice Ryan Robley (20) was named top student at the Northern Region of Colleges’ competition for bench joinery.

The one-day event in Darlington challenged students to make a traditional-style door with gunstock stiles and a raked head within six hours.

Ryan came out on top with an 80 per cent mark and will soon find out if he has qualified for the national finals of the competition, which will be held at the NEC in Birmingham early next year.

John Jackson (30) has received the Prince of Wales Award from Woodland Heritage, a national charity committed to a sustainable future for British woodland.

John was named outstanding student on the charity’s From Woodland to Workshop course.

His father, Geoff Jackson, who founded Langley Furniture Works in 1979, spoke highly of the two young joiners.

He said: “This is a very physical trade that requires students to be quick-witted, sure-footed and enjoy working as a team.

“Ryan has shown an enthusiasm to develop all of these qualities and we are very pleased that has been recognised with the top prize.

“John has really enjoyed understanding the local hardwood trade and linking this with his significant cabinet making skills.

“It is a very exciting business looking inside trees and understanding, before you slab them up, how to expose the most exciting grain. Taking on one apprentice a year has greatly contributed to building a highly-skilled team who can resourcefully turn their hand to pretty much any challenge.

“Ryan and John, along with past apprentices Rhys Edwards, Micky Armstrong and John Lambeth, are a great advertisement for what young people can and continue to do in a trade that stays largely hidden behind every wooden door, window, roof and cabinet.”