A COMPANY boss has stressed the value of apprenticeships after one of his employees was named the best in the UK.

Graham Payne, managing director of Darchem Engineering, was speaking after James Watmore was named UK Nuclear Apprentice of the Year.

The firm is one of the largest employers of apprentices in the North-East, with 49 currently working at its site in Stillington, near Darlington.

The apprentices work in Darchem's five business units covering aerospace, insulation systems, specialist fabrications, thermal protection and nuclear systems for sectors such as the motor industry, defence and oil and gas.

Mr Payne said: "I think first and foremost engineering and manufacturing is going through a renaissance for a number of reasons and this, to me, is leading to the opportunity for us to grow the engineering base, leading to a call for and demand on apprenticeship programmes.

"Our experience of apprentices is very positive and I think the apprenticeship schemes have become attractive because of the cost of university and further education, which concerns young people."

Darchem's apprentices spend a year at college and then three years training on site, with day release.

Mr Payne believed that young people were once again beginning to see the value of moving into manufacturing and engineering careers, through the apprenticeship route, although work was still needed to change perceptions.

He said: "It is part of our work getting that message across that it is a job of value, a good opportunity, sustainable over the longer term and well rewarded."

Having joined the firm in 2008 and completed his apprenticeship in engineering, fabrication and welding, Mr Watmore is now a production engineer in the nuclear systems business unit.

Mr Payne said: "We are blown away by James' achievement. This is beyond our expectations."

As well as receiving the top honour at the fourth annual UK Nuclear Skills Awards evening, in Manchester, Mr Watmore was also named supply chain Nuclear Apprentice of the Year.

Mr Watmore said: "During my time at Darchem I have always been given the opportunity to develop my personal skills and continue with further educational qualifications; this has allowed me to decide which way my career will progress Darchem and I am looking forward to the challenges that the future nuclear new build in the UK will bring for young people like myself."

Darchem has increased its presence in the nuclear sector in the past 18 months, having originally specialised in fire protection and insulation systems for nuclear power stations.

The drop-off in the popularity of nuclear over the past 25 years saw the company diversify into other markets, such as the aerospace, cars, defence and oil and gas sectors.

Its return to the sector comes as 61 reactors are being built worldwide, 26 of them in China. There are also eight new nuclear power stations planned for the UK.

Earlier this year, Darchem announced that it had won a multi-million pound contract in the nuclear sector which would create 20 jobs, taking employee numbers at Stillington to 650, an increase of 100 since the middle of last year.

Last year, Darchem announced plans to build an £8m facility in Stillington, creating 100 jobs, specifically to service the growing nuclear work.