CARTWRIGHT, the Broadheath-based trailer and body manufacturer, has taken on the first female apprentices in its history.

Lauren Maguire, aged 19, and Chelsea Ellison,18, are working on the shopfloor of the factory on Atlantic Street.

Lauren, from Sale, admitted she was “absolutely petrified” at the prospect of working in such a traditionally male-dominated environment, but her co-workers quickly put her at ease.

She said: “They couldn’t have been nicer. There’s no signs of sexism.

"They let you get on with the job and if they see you struggling they will offer to help.”

Chelsea is so keen to get to work that she gets up at 4.30 a.m., to catch three buses from her home in Wythenshawe to work.

She said: “ I love the work I do here.”

Cartwright’s apprenticeship scheme lasts two years and the Lauren and Chelsea are studying alongside male apprentices for an NVQ qualification.

Mark Cartwright, group managing director of Cartwright said: “We are impressed with all of our apprentices this year and are delighted to welcome Lauren and Chelsea as our first female apprentices.

"We very much hope that Lauren and Chelsea will be the first of many more girls coming forward to join our apprenticeship programme in the future.”