Jacob Young, who is a chemical industry apprentice with TTE Technical Training Group and is now placed with Tees Valley chemical business Chemoxy, tackled the Prime Minister at a Conservative Party event and was delighted with his answer.

Jacob has won praise from Steve Grant, the Managing Director of TTE, for displaying the confidence and commitment to ask the question.

Jacob is a member of the Teesside Conservative Future group, for younger supporters of the Conservative Party and was one of 160 people invited to meet the Prime Minister in a private capacity after Mr Cameron officially launched the new Nissan electric car.

Jacob asked what more the Government can do to reduce the stigma surrounding apprenticeships in light of the choice between them and academic study.

Mr Cameron said that a million people had started an apprenticeship since May 2010 and there had been a significant increase in young people taking apprenticeships in the North East.

He said it should be a normal aspiration that young people leaving school should look towards an apprenticeship or further study and that an apprenticeship could count towards further academic qualifications. He cited the board of Rolls Royce, half of whom had been apprentices and then gone on to take degrees linked to their apprenticeships.

Jacob said: "I was delighted the Prime Minister was able to give me such a detailed answer and that he felt passionately that apprenticeships should be a respected and integral part of the development of young people.

"It was only afterwards that I learned that David Cameron had visited TTE when Leader of the Opposition and used this experience to help form his government's policy in this important area."

Steve Grant, TTE Managing Director, said "Everyone at TTE remembers David Cameron's visit in November 2007, when he was here for a long time and ensured his shadow ministers kept in touch and learned from our experience.

"It is a happy coincidence that one of our apprentices, who was still at school at the time of Mr Cameron's visit to TTE, had the chance to boost the standing of apprenticeships in a question to the Prime Minister.

"Jacob is a credit to TTE and his future employer, Chemoxy. His confidence in raising this important aspect of policy demonstrates how a good apprenticeship can reach all parts of a young person's development."

Renowned for its expertise in delivering training for the energy sectors and chemical industries, TTE is also able to serve manufacturing sectors through the transferable engineering skills it delivers to apprentices.

The training organisation is currently establishing new relationships with food manufactures across Teesside and has recently supplied an Apprentice to SK Foods, which makes own-label Indian, Chinese, American and Mexican-style Chilled snacks for all the major retailers including UK supermarkets.

SK Foods approached TTE to deliver training for its new Engineering apprentice Jordan Jackson. Jordan, 16, from Stockton, is the son of SK Foods' Senior Engineering Manager, Paul Jackson and is hoping to follow in his father's footsteps.

As an Electrical Engineering apprentice, Jordan will spend two years at TTE's specialist training centre in Middlesbrough where he will work towards a NVQ and BTEC Level 3 in Engineering while also achieving key engineering and workplace-related skills.

A further two years will be spent working as part of SK Foods' engineering team across the company's three sites in Teesside, which will enable Jordan to achieve his Level 3 vocational qualification and complete his apprenticeship framework.

SK Foods recently completed a £3 million expansion of its manufacturing facility at its South Bank site and the company sees apprentices as a key element to support this growth. Over the past four years SK Foods have had two apprentices from TTE, Sarah Kingston and Liam Hepple have both gained full time employment as shift engineers across both manufacturing sites.

TTE currently has in excess of 600 young people going through various stages of their pre-apprenticeship and Advanced Apprenticeship training and has recruited more than 80 employer-supported apprentices for this September.

Dave Thompson, Partnerships Manager at TTE, said: "The level of engineering skills required by manufacturers is high, whether the companies are producing modules for offshore platforms or sandwiches for supermarkets. Companies such as SK Foods see the benefits of investing in apprenticeships to ensure skilled personnel continue to enter their sectors. We look forward to working with SK Foods and other food manufacturers to support their commitment to skills development."

Jordan Jackson said: "I am really looking forward to starting my apprenticeship training. I have done some work placements at SK Foods, which I have really enjoyed and have given me a good introduction to a career in engineering."

Paul Jackson from SK Foods, said: "Working with TTE will ensure that Jordan takes part in a structured and recognised apprenticeship framework, which matches his enthusiasm for engineering. I am delighted he is following me into engineering and I hope more young people do the same as it can lead to a long and rewarding career."

The TTE Technical Training Group is the UK's leading technical training provider to the oil and gas, process, manufacturing and engineering sectors.

Originally established as a joint venture company and owned by ICI and British Steel, in 1999 the company became independent and since then it has grown and changed substantially.

TTE is a charity having a 'not-for-profit status' with its surpluses re-invested in the development of its innovative programmes and facilities.

TTE, which offers training and consultancy services, is a company limited by guarantee with charitable status. Its business comprises apprentice, technician and graduate skills development, design and operation of technical training centres, training consultancy services and operations, maintenance and safety short courses

Working alongside Redcar and Cleveland Neighbourhood Policing Team, it is putting a range of crime prevention measures into place to deter or identify the culprits.

An appeal has been made to residents asking for their help to pinpoint those who may be responsible for stealing £40,000 worth of fences over a seven month period.

The anti-theft measures include:

• DNA forensic marking being applied to fences to help the police identify whether recovered fences belong to Coast & Country.
• Signage displayed in affected areas, warning thieves that forensic marking has been used.
• Increased patrols in the area by Coast & Country staff and the Police.

Iain Sim, Coast & Country Chief Executive, said: "This type of crime undermines residents' sense of wellbeing and also impacts on the community in general by spoiling the look of a neighbourhood.

"We will not tolerate this criminal and anti-social behaviour and have put a range of measures in place to not only deter future thefts, but catch those responsible for previous incidents.

"We also need the help of residents whose vigilance could help identify the culprits."

Inspector Guy Hall said: "This type of theft is a costly concern to the community with the police and Coast & Country working hard to keep the area damage and theft-free.

"We urge anyone who witnesses vandalism or theft occurring to call 101 immediately."

Residents who notice anything suspicious can phone the police on 101, contact Crime-stoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or call Coast & Country on 01642 771300.

Coast & Country Housing: Established in 2001, Coast & Country is a 'not for profit' local Housing Company limited by guarantee. It is a Registered Social Landlord (RSL) and is regulated by the Tenant Services Authority. As the largest RSL within Redcar and Cleveland, its current rental housing stock totals 10,309.

Its properties and estates are located in a diverse range of urban estates, seaside resorts and rural villages. Coast & Country believes that working together with local communities to find local solutions is a key factor in building and sustaining communities.
Delivering high quality homes Coast & Country is contributing to the prosperity, wider regeneration and sustainability of the communities within the immediate region and beyond.

Coast & Country aims to ensure that its regeneration work will have a positive impact on people's lives, achieving a careful balance of new homes for sale and for rent creating the kind of neighbourhoods that will flourish well into the future.
For more information log on to: www.cch-online.org.uk

The TTE Technical Training Group has continued to demonstrate its commitment to apprenticeships by enrolling 200 young people onto its training programmes.

TTE is now responsible for more than 650 trainees at various stages of their apprenticeships.

The growth in numbers, a rise of about 18 percent on 2010's intake, also emphasises TTE's charitable status and dedication to supporting the skills development of young people on Teesside.

TTE's portfolio of apprenticeship programmes are designed to support the engineering, oil and gas, manufacturing, process and chemical industries.

The new intake is spread across a series of specialist technical training programmes including the Tees Valley Production Technician apprenticeship and the Young Scientist programme, which blend respected qualifications with invaluable hands-on practical training.

Students will spend two years working towards respected vocational and technical qualifications at TTE's training centre in South Bank, Middlesbrough, and at Redcar & Cleveland College, in addition to spending a large proportion of their time in the workshops gaining practical experience of a range of engineering disciplines.

The target for the students is to achieve sponsorship from employers at the end of the two years to allow them to complete their training as Advanced Apprentices.

As Advanced Apprentices students spend two years working for their sponsoring employer gaining 'on the job' knowledge and experience of working in industry.

Despite the continued economic uncertainty and a limited number of available industry placements, a number of the new intake has already secured sponsorship from forward-thinking employers who aim to support the development of their students from the first day of their training through to potential employment opportunities.

Steve Grant, Managing Director of The TTE Technical Training Group, said: "The Apprenticeship route is becoming an increasingly popular post-16 education option for young people, which is reflected in the growth of our 2011 intake.

"Despite external economic challenges, TTE's status as a social enterprise with charitable status means that it will maintain its commitment to apprenticeship training, which will provide opportunities for young people and provide a skilled workforce for employers in the future."

He added: "There is already a lack of skilled and experienced engineers available to industry, which will diminish further without investment in future skills. We have taken the view that, with the emergence of new green industries and the return of steel making on Teesside, the growing requirement for highly-skilled technicians will increase dramatically. "

"Continuing to recruit and train apprentices will ensure that the flow of new entrants to industry is not stemmed, which will be appreciated by employers as opportunities increase."

The TTE Technical Training Group has announced Lotte Chemical UK Ltd has committed to sponsoring eight new apprentices.

This latest group will take the Redcar-based company's commitment to 17 sponsored apprentices as part of its relationship with TTE.

The group of chemical, mechanical, instrumentation, laboratory and electrical apprentices are undertaking either a three or four years training programmes with the first part being spent completing programmes at TTE's training centre in South Bank, Middlesbrough followed by a two-year placement at LCUK, based on Wilton site, where they will work on the PTA and PET assets respectively.

The apprentices will work on a full-time basis receiving site-specific training and assessment to achieve NVQ Level 3 and invaluable practical experience.

The success of the partnership between the two organisations has also been demonstrated by LCUK's decision to give two of its apprentices full-time positions as Process Technicians within the company after they successfully completed their apprenticeship training.

LCUK established its commitment to apprenticeships on Teesside in 2010. The company, which is the UK subsidiary of KP Chemicals and part of the Lotte Group, arrived in the area after purchasing assets formerly belonging to Artenius UK Ltd which went into administration in 2009.

In its short time in the region LCUK has already been recognised for its work with apprentices. It was named as the North East Medium Apprentice Employer of the Year and reached the final of the National Apprenticeship Awards.

LCUK was also one of only 11 companies from the region who appeared in the first list of Top 100 Apprenticeship Employers.

Steve Grant, Managing Director of the TTE Technical Training Group," said: "Lotte Chemical UK Ltd is a superb advocate of apprenticeship training and its Teesside operation can be held up as model for industry skills development.

"TTE has established an effective working relationship with LCUK, which supports the company's skills development programmes and provides invaluable on-the-job-experience for apprentices.

"The sponsorship of apprentices provided by employers like LCUK is vital, not only to provide young people with essential skills and training opportunities, but to ensure that companies can recruit from a pool of talented and competent entrants to industry."

Stephen Trillo, Lotte Chemical UK Ltd's HR, OD & IT Manager, said: "We have a culture of continuous learning and development and our Apprenticeship programme is at the heart of this. Our ethos is that learning should be a journey not a destination.

"We recognise how important it is that our existing employees transfer their skills and expertise to young, upcoming talent to ensure the future success of the business and, in partnership with TTE, we have a best of breed apprentice programme that delivers excellent results.

"The influx of new apprentices also benefits our business as they introduce innovative and fresh ideas to help us remain at the forefront of our industry."

The TTE Technical Training Group is the UK's leading technical training provider to the oil and gas, process, manufacturing and engineering sectors.

Originally established as a joint venture company and owned by ICI and British Steel, in 1990 the company became independent and since then it has grown and changed substantially.

TTE is a charity having a 'not-for-profit status with its surpluses re-invested in the development of its innovative programmes and facilities.

TTE, which offers training and consultancy services, is a company limited by guarantee with charitable status. Its business comprises apprentice, technician and graduate skills development, design and operation of technical training centres, training consultancy services and operations, maintenance and safety short courses.

The TTE Technical Training Group has achieved an important quality standard to highlight its efforts in delivering equality and diversity excellence.

The Teesside-based training organisation has been given The Equality Standard accreditation by Equality North East, for recognition in promoting high standards of equality and diversity practices within the workplace and in partnerships with companies.

Delivering a wide portfolio of apprenticeships, TTE has been instrumental in providing thousands of skilled and motivated apprentices armed with recognised qualifications and invaluable 'on-the-job' experience.

Previously, the organisation was highly commended in the 2010 North East Equality Awards after being selected as a finalist in the Award for Employers of between 51 and 250 Staff category. The award showed TTE's efforts to attract a diverse workforce in gender, ethnicity and learning disabilities.

TTE was particularly praised for its "Girls Allowed" events, which are held to encourage the number of women entering the engineering sector. In addition, Equality North East also highlighted TTE's plans to address shortfalls and improve provisions to support and attract a diverse workforce.

Steve Grant, TTE Managing Director, said: "I am very proud that TTE has achieved this accreditation. TTE strongly believes in equality and diversity in the workplace and, as a result, promotes its courses and career opportunities to as wide an audience as possible."

"This has been demonstrated through holding annual events such as 'Girls Allowed' which have been a great success in attracting female students to pursue an apprenticeship. We also continue to build solid relationships with schools, colleges and employers throughout the region to ensure every young person is well informed of the opportunities we can make available to them."

Steve added: "TTE is fully committed to ensuring that we lead the way in promoting equality and diversity through our recruitment and ongoing training process. The quality standard will increase awareness of the benefits apprenticeships can bring, to an even wider and more diverse future workforce."

Notes to editors:
The TTE Technical Training Group is the UK's leading technical training provider to the oil and gas, process, manufacturing and engineering sectors.

Originally established as a joint venture company and owned by ICI and British Steel, in 1990 the company became independent and since then it has grown and changed substantially.

TTE is a charity having a 'not-for-profit' status with its surpluses re-invested in the development of its innovative programmes and facilities.

TTE, which offers training and consultancy services, is a company limited by guarantee with charitable status. Its business comprises apprentice, technician and graduate skills development, design and operation of technical training centres, training consultancy services and operations, maintenance and safety short courses.

TTE Technical Training Group apprentices are putting their engineering skills to the test to create a three-dimensional installation for a community art project.

Three second-year fabrication trainees are producing a sculpture of a trolley bus as part of Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council's contribution to Britain in Bloom.

The creation, when finished, will take pride of place on the bull-ring roundabout on Birchington Avenue, in Grangetown, where trolley buses used to run in days gone by.

The three-metre high sculpture, which is being fashioned out of steel, features silhouettes of passengers that are based on profiles of TTE staff.

The trio behind the artistic creation are: George Carney, 18, of Marton, Jordan Hammond, 18, of Thornaby, and Jake Wood, 19, of Acklam. They have all become very passionate about the project and have been coming to TTE's South Bank training centre to work on the sculpture outside of their normal working hours.

George Carney said: "I never thought I'd be using my fabrication skills to make a sculpture of a trolley bus when I embarked on my apprenticeship with TTE.

"This has been a really interesting project to be involved in and has given me the opportunity to put the skills I have learnt to good use.

"The three of us are really looking forward to seeing the finished product when it appears on the roundabout and hope it helps Redcar and Cleveland when the area is visited by the Britain in Bloom judges."

Keith Leslie, TTE Apprenticeship Business Director, said: "This project demonstrates not only the level and quality of skills possessed by TTE apprentices, but also TTE's support for the local community.

"Their ability to bring the concept to life is to be commended and TTE is proud that work of its apprentices is going to be displayed in a location where it will be seen and appreciated by the public."

The apprentices, who are doing the project in addition to their course work, were commissioned by Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council, to create the sculpture.

Trolley buses were a familiar sight in the Grangetown area from 1915.

The trolley bus system on Teesside finally stopped running in 1971 and was the penultimate trackless system to close in the UK.
ENDS
The TTE Technical Training Group is the UK's leading technical training provider to the oil and gas, process, manufacturing and engineering sectors.

Originally established as a joint venture company and owned by ICI and British Steel, in 1990 the company became independent and since then it has grown and changed substantially.

TTE is a charity having a 'not-for-profit status with its surpluses re-invested in the development of its innovative programmes and facilities.

TTE, which offers training and consultancy services, is a company limited by guarantee with charitable status. Its business comprises apprentice, technician and graduate skills development, design and operation of technical training centres, training consultancy services and operations, maintenance and safety short courses.

Coast & Country Housing, Henderson Insurance Brokers and TTE Technical Training Group are hosting a 'Question Time' style event taking place on Tuesday June 7.

Being held at TTE Technical Training Centre in South Bank, it will focus on the next phase of the LEP following the recent announcement of Regional Growth Fund first round bid successes in the Tees Valley.

The 'Question Time' panel, chaired by Mike Hughes, Business Editor at The Evening Gazette, will comprise LEP Managing Director Stephen Catchpole, Chief Executive of Redcar & Cleveland Council, Amanda Skelton, TTE Managing Director Steve Grant and Coast & Country Chief Executive Iain Sim.

Iain Sim, Chief Executive of Coast & Country, one of the largest housing and regeneration companies in the North East, said: "We felt it was important that businesses in the Redcar and Cleveland area were given an opportunity to start engaging with and learning about the partnership, which has such a significant part to play in shaping the future economic landscape of the area."

Jonathan Willett, Henderson Insurance Brokers Teesside Director, said: "The aim of the event is to help business leaders in the borough forge a relationship with the LEP.

"This is particularly pertinent as round two of bids for the Regional Growth Fund is open, and given the Tees Valley's success in achieving £26 million from round one, I am sure information about how to bid for round two will emerge at our event."

Steve Grant, Managing Director of TTE Technical Training Group said: "The LEP has the ability to properly target local priorities and tackle the issues which are unique to our area. Therefore, it is vital that the LEP liaises with businesses in Redcar and Cleveland to ascertain their concerns and needs."

Stephen Catchpole, Managing Director of the LEP, which is run by Tees Valley Unlimited, said: "This briefing presents the ideal opportunity for us to give businesses and organisations in Redcar and Cleveland the opportunity to hear what the Regional Growth Fund can do for them and how they can access it.

"We did so well from Round One with companies Cleveland Potash, SSI, AV Dawson, Nifco and Lotte all receiving a share of the funding allocated, and there's every reason to think we can do as well if not better from this second round.
"So we want to get out and about to meet prospective bidders to give them as much information as possible about the fund."
The Regional Growth Fund is £1.4bn programme of support for businesses and projects nationwide,
The Question Time style event is being held at TTE Technical Training at South Bank on Tuesday June 7 starting at 5pm for 5.30pm. Anyone interested in attending should email anna.dawson@recognitionpr.co.uk

Coast & Country Housing: Established in 2001, Coast & Country took over the ownership and management of homes from Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council in July 2002. The Company is a 'not for profit' local Housing Company limited by guarantee. It is a Registered Social Landlord (RSL) and is regulated by the Tenant Services Authority.As the largest RSL within Redcar and Cleveland, its current rental housing stock totals 10,309. Its properties and estates are located in a diverse range of urban estates, seaside resorts and rural villages. Coast & Country believes that working together with local communities to find local solutions is a key factor in building and sustaining communities. Delivering high quality homes Coast & Country is contributing to the prosperity, wider regeneration and sustainability of the communities within the immediate region and beyond. Coast & Country aims to ensure that its regeneration work will have a positive impact on people's lives, achieving a careful balance of new homes for sale and for rent creating the kind of neighbourhoods that will flourish well into the future.
For more information log on to: www.cch-online.org.uk
Henderson Insurance Brokers is one of the top five leading insurance brokers operating from 11 offices across the UK and delivering for clients in all industry sectors.The company has specialist divisions in construction, real estate, retail/wholesale and haulage - as well as strong expertise in risk management and manufacturing.
The Henderson portfolio also comprises a specialist Lloyd's business, Contractsure, and further divisions for surety services, risk management, healthcare and real estate development.The company also undertakes general business insurance by drawing on more than two decades of experience to deliver tailored packages.
For more information log onto www.hibl.co.uk

TTE The TTE Technical Training Group is the UK's leading technical training provider to the oil and gas, process, manufacturing and engineering sectors. Originally established as a joint venture company and owned by ICI and British Steel, in 1990 the company became independent and since then it has grown and changed substantially.
For more information log onto www.tte.co.uk

Sounded easy until attempts to start the fire progressed slowly due to the wetness of the wood. Success was finally achieved following the advise, sometimes useless, from the gathered volunteers (see photograph) who delved deep into the hundreds of years of combined experience and knowledge.

Further work remains to be done and hopefully someone will remember to provide dry kindling! The Friends of Flatts Lane meeting for December 6th has been postponed.

This week we have started the winter programme amongst which the clearing out of 20% of the growth in some areas around the walks. this involves cutting and burning dense growth of non native trees species which can reach a considerable height as they compete for light. It is good to see the sunlight once more reaching the ground and hopefully encouraging growth of diverse flora and fauna. The Friends of Flatts Lane are participating in the Evening Gazette's annual "Wish" scheme as part of their ongoing fund raising, so contributions of the printed stamps would be gratefully received at the Centre.

National charity Mental Health Matters has in the past used community centres run by Coast & Country, one of the largest housing and regeneration companies in the North East, for social support and advice sessions.

Now the two organisations have cemented their relationship by launching an environmental improvement scheme.

Mental Health Matters has recently started using the refurbished Oakley Walk Community Centre at Bankfields and its Service Users have volunteered to take care of the centre's garden.

The group, including teenagers and pensioners, has given the communal outside area a complete makeover by weeding, clearing away litter and planting up tubs.
They will continue to look after the garden on a regular basis.

Iain Sim, Coast & Country Chief Executive, said: "Our communities are made up of individuals who have different abilities and needs, but who all have the potential to make a contribution to their neighbourhoods.

"This scheme helps the community, will improve and maintain the quality of the environment, provides support to people with mental health needs and promotes partnership working, all of which contributes to Coast & Country achieving its strategic aims."

Kelly Conway, Service Manager at Mental Health Matters, said: "Working in partnership with Coast & Country, we can improve people's confidence, self-esteem and skills through this gardening project."

Mental Health Matters works with partner organisations to deliver a comprehensive range of services centred on individual service user needs and covering a wide range of aspects of their lives from employment and housing to community support.