Seven schools from across the Redcar and Cleveland borough are taking part in this year's Future Leaders scheme where one young person will win the prize of an apprenticeship with the social enterprise company starting in 2012.

Winner of the inaugural scheme 16-year-old Adam Pearce put this year's contenders under starter's orders at a team building day.

Seven schools - Bydales, Marske, Rye Hills, Sacred Heart and Redcar Community College, all Redcar, Nunthorpe, Laurence Jackson, Guisborough, and Freeborough, Brotton - have signed up.

After facing a series of challenges, one student will eventually be named a Future Leader and will be awarded an apprenticeship with Coast & Country, one of the largest regeneration and housing companies in the North East, starting in 2012.

The first stage of the selection process was held at Bydales School and involved about 70 youngsters, aged 14 to 15, taking part a series of team building exercises.

They also split up into groups to start devising community projects which they will have to organise and complete to schedule within a certain budget.

These projects, which must benefit the wider community, will be assessed and 25 teenagers will be given the opportunity to attend an outward bound course.

Iain Sim, Coast & Country Chief Executive, said: "The initial Future Leaders programme proved to be a great success and we are delighted to have built on this by attracting the support of double the number of schools this year.

"As a social enterprise company, Coast & Country delivers many community-based services, which seek to tackle financial exclusion, unemployment and worklessness.

"Future Leaders is aimed at boosting youngsters' confidence and self-esteem and helping them develop skills and knowledge that will stand them in good stead when embarking on a career.

"Coast & Country offers a wide range of apprenticeships including business administration, plumbing, horticulture, IT and bricklaying. The youngster crowned Coast & Country's Future Leader will be able to choose an apprenticeship to suit their ambitions and talents."

Adam Pearce, who has become head boy at Laurence Jackson since winning the Future Leaders title, said: "The Future Leaders scheme is a fantastic experience and, I am sure, that those taking part this year will gain greatly from it.

"The community projects teach vital budgeting, organisational and team working skills - all of which are useful in both the world of work and in people's personal lives.

"I am looking forward to starting my apprenticeship, where I will earn while I learn, with Coast & Country next year."

The Future Leaders Scheme has received support from partner agencies including Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council's Enterprise Team and the Local Strategic Partnership.

The apprentices, who are aged 15 to 24, will be training for a variety of a careers ranging from business administration to painting and decorating to heating engineering.

They beat off stiff competition with the apprenticeship places attracting more than 290 applications.

The youngest recruit is Sam Shelley, from Skinningrove, who left school at the end of June and started his heating engineers' apprenticeship with the housing and regeneration company the following Monday.

The other recruits, whose apprenticeships will last between one and three years, are:

Business Administration - Robyn Downey, from Redcar, Sarah Todd, from Ingleby Barwick, Rebecca Smith, from Dormanstown, Jasmine Craggs, from New Marske, Kayleigh Hugill, from Eston, and Rachael Robinson, from Bankfields.

Painting and Decorating - Craig Goodall, from Middlesbrough, Gary Langner, from Redcar and Andrew Lee, from Eston.

Heating Engineers - Thomas Mitchell-Peel and Ross Wilson, both from Redcar.

The recruitment process involved a series of tests including speed interviewing where the shortlisted candidates were asked a different question by five people, a team building scheme involving navigating from one end of the country to the other within a set budget and time, a customer care task and making a presentation about their strengths.

Iain Sim, Chief Executive of Coast & Country, which is based in the Tees Valley, in the North East of England, said: "Apprenticeships are an excellent way of giving young people the chance to learn skills vital in the workplace, which have the potential to lead to a full-time career.

"It is important that agencies work together to put projects in place that help young people get their first foot on the career ladder and ensure that we have a new generation of skilled workers to meet future business needs.

"Coast & Country is proud to have been able to take on its largest ever number of apprentices this year."

Coast & Country has worked alongside Routes 2 Employment and Connexions in the apprentices' recruitment drive. The trainees, as well as gaining practical work experience, will be studying toward levels 2 and 3 NVQs at Redcar and Cleveland College on a day release basis.

Gavin Smith, of Connexions, said "Connexions, Routes 2 Employment and the ELITE team have been delighted with the enthusiasm of Coast & Country in offering such a diverse range of apprenticeship opportunities to young people.
"Their commitment to recruit the workforce of tomorrow from the local labour market has given our young people the opportunity to learn new skills and contribute to the local economy.

"Coast & Country's commitment should be a catalyst to other employers in the area. It clearly shows that given the opportunity young people in Redcar and Cleveland have a real desire to work."

Graham Hubbard, from Redcar and Cleveland Councils' Routes 2 Employment Team, said: "Apprenticeships pave the way to an excellent career and allow trainees to earn while they learn. Coast & Country should be commended for their support in helping young people enter the world of work by taking on a record number of apprentices."

Gary Groom, of Redcar and Cleveland College, said: "Redcar and Cleveland College works with the wider community by partnering organisations, such as Coast & Country, to provide quality training and qualification opportunities to local young people."

Five schools in the Redcar and Cleveland area - Bydales, Kirkleatham Hall School, Rye Hills, Sacred Heart and Redcar Community College - have joined forces to establish a Specialist Schools Trust in partnership with Coast & Country, Middlesbrough, Redcar & Cleveland Community Services, Darlington Building Society, The Sage Gateshead, Teesside University, Prior Pursglove College, Redcar & Cleveland College and The Centre for Process Innovation.

Internationally renowned opera singer Suzannah Clarke, who has become an ambassador for Teesside, sang a song of celebration, with students from the schools, to mark the launch of the Redcar and Marske Specialist Schools Trust.

The Trust is being established to:

Raise aspirations by extending the experience of students

Extend the provision and access to high quality facilities, services and learning opportunities for members of the whole community.

Share experiences and provide a range of support and expertise beyond what the schools are able to offer individually.

Through external partners, provide learning and development opportunities for both students and staff, activities to support the curriculum and access to specialist resources.

The organisations which are collaborating with the Trust are: Coast & Country, Middlesbrough, Redcar & Cleveland Community Services, Darlington Building Society, The Sage Gateshead, Teesside University, Prior Pursglove College, Redcar & Cleveland College and The Centre for Process Innovation.

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BY THE SEA: Robin Whitehead sent in this picture of the Marske Headlands.