A TRAINING provider is offering students another way to tap into careers.

The TTE Technical Training Group, in South Bank, near Middlesbrough, has taken on a water treatment plant from Northumbrian Water.

The facility, based in the Northumberland countryside, was used to process water from springs to supply local houses with drinking water.

However, after reaching the end of its operational life, Northumbrian Water offered the eight metre by five metre plant to TTE for training purposes.

The organisation has now handed a group of youngsters the responsibility of dismantling the apparatus.

A team of four learners and two trainers will strip out parts and equipment before photographing each element so the plant can be rebuilt at TTE.

Once recommissioned, it will be connected to a water supply so students can carry out training exercises, such as maintenance, sample testing and instrumentation measurements.

Steve Grant, TTE’s managing director, said: “We are very grateful to Northumbrian Water for the donation.

“It also presents quite a unique opportunity for a group of trainees to take part in a residential work placement, which will provide them with experiences and new skills they will no doubt apply throughout their careers.”

Adam Bell, Northumbrian Water project acceptance engineer, added: “This plant will help meet the needs of young people, by giving them experience of handling real kit.

“It makes far more sense to use it this way than to scrap it.”

Northumbrian Water has worked with TTE for more than eight years on training.