TRAINING charity TTE Technical Training Group is increasing its links to the food manufacturing industry to support apprenticeship training.

The Middlesbroughbased organisation recently supplied an apprentice to SK Foods, which makes own-label Indian, Chinese, American and Mexicanstyle snacks for major retailers.

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 now spend two years at TTE’s centre where he will work towards NVQ and Btec level three in engineering while also picking up workplacerelated skills.

A further two years will be spent working as part of SK Foods’ engineering team to achieve his level three vocational qualification and complete his apprenticeship framework.

SK Foods recently completed a £3m expansion of its factory at its South Bank site and the company sees apprentices as a key element to support this growth.

Two apprentices from TTE, Sarah Kingston and Liam Hepple have both gained full-time employment as shift engineers.

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.”