A WREXHAM-based greenhouse manufacturer has expanded its team of skilled engineers by welcoming a new apprentice to the company.

Ethan McCarthy, 19, from Wrexham, has joined Cultivar Greenhouses to learn the trade from longstanding employee Alan Jones, who was the company's first employee and has recently retired with 20 years' experience in the industry.

Having joined the team this autumn, Ethan has been in training to take on Alan's day-to-day responsibilities in the workshop, which includes caring for the Accoya wood that is used in Cultivar greenhouses.

This modified timber is one of the most dimensionally stable materials available for greenhouse structures, and requires specific treatment and handling, the knowledge of which Alan has passed down to his young apprentice.

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Cultivar Greenhouses' small team is steadily growing, and since Alan's retirement, Ethan has continued to develop his skills under the keen eye and guidance of Tim Parry, technical director at Cultivar, and his son Joe, who oversees activity in the workshop.

"I have thoroughly enjoyed my first few weeks at Cultivar Greenhouses, and have learnt so much already," says Ethan, "Before retiring, Alan passed on so much invaluable knowledge and experience, and I am excited to continue expanding my skillset as I master the craft with the support of Tim and the team."

Tim added: "We're proud to be training the next generation of engineers. It's important to continue passing on these invaluable skills that might otherwise be lost, while always developing new and improved methods of manufacturing.

"We'd like to thank Alan for his many years of dedication and service, and we look forward to working with Ethan to continue developing his skillset while providing keen growers across the UK with beautiful, handcrafted greenhouses."

All of Cultivar's greenhouses are designed and constructed by its team of 11 people from its workshop and showroom in Wrexham.