The TTE Technical Training Group has introduced a new training programme to provide a positive opportunity for young people who may have made the wrong career choices in the summer.

The mid-term Student Engineering Programme, which begins in January 2007, has been developed to meet the demand for alternative training and education routes for young people who are looking to change career path.

Young people with GCSEs in Maths, English and Science can apply for the programme, which has been designed to prepare and develop young people with the skills required for progression onto an industry-sponsored Advanced Apprenticeship and a potential career in industry.

TTE has launched a recruitment drive across the Tees Valley to present this training opportunity to young people, which includes a specially commissioned podcast that features the stories of two young people, Leanne Pemberton and Andrew Wright, who switched career paths to join TTE.

Leanne, 19, from Marske, joined TTE after a year on an academic engineering course at college.

She said: “I chose an engineering apprenticeship because I had been to college for a year studying subjects which would allow me to do an engineering degree at university.

However, although the theory work was interesting it was not clear how it would apply in a real life situation. I thought that an apprenticeship would allow me to gain all of the academic qualifications required for a career in engineering but also the practical experience that employers would look for.”

Andrew, 17, from Berwick Hills, Middlesbrough, joined TTE after completing an AS level qualification achieving a B grade. He has recently gained sponsorship with Billingham-based company, Avecia and is on course to achieve the necessary training framework for his Advanced Apprenticeship.

He said: “I really wanted to try something more practical after I finished my AS level and this apprenticeship is the perfect route for me. Achieving the sponsorship from Avecia is a real boost for me because, alongside the support I receive from TTE, it shows that there is a respected employer who also has faith in me and gives me the extra motivation to go on to the career I want in industry.”

Keith Lilley, TTE’s 14-19 Education Links Coordinator, who is heading up the recruitment campaign, said: “It is not uncommon for people to make the wrong career choice and it is something they should not feel bad about.

“Over the past few years TTE has been approached by a growing number of young people who feel they may have made the wrong career choice after leaving school and we have developed this programme to offer them a positive and productive opportunity to gain valuable skills, experience and the chance of a successful career.

“Employers in industry are crying out for talented young people to enter their workforces. If you consider that, alongside existing job opportunities in the area, the recent announcements of the construction of a new power station and an oil platform on Teesside will mean that there will an even higher demand for skilled local people.”

For more information on the new Student Engineering Programme please contact TTE on 01642 462266 or email schoolsteam@tte.co.uk or to view the podcast log on to www.tte.co.uk.