PROSPECTS for school leavers who want to make a career in construction and civil engineering remain good despite the credit crunch, according to the head of the region’s representative body.

Peter Samuel, chairman of the Civil Engineering Contractors’ Association North-East, said he expects that groundbreaking courses of apprenticeships – which are the first of their kind in the UK – may prove even more successful this year, with more students than ever expected to follow the 60 who have qualified.

He said: “Even at this difficult time in our industry, we must be more pro-active in employing operative trainees to have a sustainable future.

“Working with local colleges and ConstructionSkills, we have been able to start NVQ2 courses in civil engineering apprenticeship in 2007 and 2008.”