GROWING up in South Africa, a youthful Charl Erasmus was putting his exuberance to great use on the rugby field.

However, his passion for tough tackling and try scoring was brought to a premature end after he broke his back in a diving accident.

But rugby is a tough game, its community made up of deeply resolute characters who see injuries as an inconvenience.

And he is continuing that determination, channelling the same energy and will to succeed he once bestowed against opponents into the youth of tomorrow.

As chief executive of South West Durham Training (SWDT), in Newton Aycliffe, County Durham, he has overseen hundreds of engineering and manufacturing apprentices learning their trade before going on to benefit North-East industry.

It is not an easy task. By 2016, the North-East engineering sector, which has about 60,000 workers, is expected to lose about 8,500 skilled people through retirement, with a further 15,000 needing extra training to improve their skills.

Companies are desperate to plug this predicted void and the drive to increase apprenticeships has never been so great, with SWDT taking on about 200 apprentices a year.

However, the situation was earlier this month made much more complicated when Germany launched a £120m drive to attract young British workers, offering £700 a month and 170 hours of free language lessons.

Mr Erasmus says the Government’s decision to bestow greater power to companies, which comes after a review from former Dragons’ Den electronics entrepreneur Doug Richard, is welcome, but said more support was needed to increase the value of apprenticeships.

He said: “Things are going well with us here and the business is up quite a bit from last year.

“This particular time of the year is always hectic as we finish the last academic year and look to get the new apprentices in.

“What we are finding is that engineering apprentices are now seeing the benefits of going into the industry. The national average wage for an apprentice is about £95 a week, but in engineering that starts a little higher.

“I agree with the Government looking deeper at apprenticeships, but the support we need is one that will make it easier for companies to take on apprentices.

“It is vital that we establish a relationship so that we can support the companies and they can support the industries.”

After arriving in Newcastle, where he met his wife, Mr Erasmus worked in a number of jobs before finding his way to SWDT.

Unable to continue playing rugby after his injury, he took up refereeing and is now a familiar face as the man in the middle at rugby grounds across the region.

He said: “When I broke my back in 2001, I woke up in the Glasgow hospital and realised I had to get myself back on my feet quickly.

“It took me about four months and refereeing was something I got into.

“I do the national leagues and have taken charge of games featuring Mowden Park and Percy Park, and also done the University Premiership.

“It’s great – the atmosphere is always good and, even on the rare occasions you might make an error, you can still go into the pub after the game with the lads and enjoy a pint.”