FORMER apprentices at collapsed steelmaker SSI could see their careers end before they start, a youngster has warned.

Zach Phoenix, who was a fourth year electrical apprentice at the Redcar site, says he fears the firm’s liquidation could have devastating consequences for the next generation.

Mr Phoenix is now urging companies to come forward and take people on to help them finish vital assessments, including workplace tests, to allow them to progress.

Teesside-based training provider, The TTE Technical Training Group, is helping students, and working on a plan to maintain its support going forward.

However, Mr Phoenix, of Guisborough, east Cleveland, told The Northern Echo while such backing is invaluable, it is crucial other firms come forward to help apprentices complete on-the-job assessments.

Reflecting on SSI’s liquidation, the 20-year-old said: “When I started off there, I thought I would have a lifelong job.

“But now, with what’s happened, everyone is pretty devastated.

“We have been left in the lurch.

“We are trying to finish our NVQ qualifications and trying to find a new company who will be willing to give us a chance to complete them and possibly allow us to join them.

“TTE are doing their best for us, but there multiple apprentices in their third and fourth years who have had their apprenticeships cut short due to SSI’s liquidation.

“Our careers could be over.”

A spokesman confirmed TTE, based in South Bank, near Middlesbrough, is working on plans to help affected youngsters complete their qualifications and finish their apprenticeships.

He added fourth year students have been attending TTE’s base for support.

The apprenticeship warning comes ahead of an expected decision on the future of Teesside steelmaking.

The Redcar site’s coke ovens, which generate high-value offshoots, such as electricity and coal-tar product benzol, will burn until at least the weekend, after the base’s official receiver sanctioned the purchase of more coal to keep the flames alight.

However, a judgement is expected today (Friday, October 8) on whether more coal will be bought to keep the ovens ablaze after the weekend.

If it doesn’t, and the receiver elects to let the 162 ovens burn out, it could spell the end for the entire works, with their ongoing survival maintaining hopes about 400 jobs can be saved.

Bosses at County Durham coal firm Hargreaves Services have held talks several times with the receiver, who was appointed after SSI UK was liquidated, but The Northern Echo understands the company has no desire to take ownership of the ovens, the steelworks or manage the site.

The Esh Winning business has offered to continue managing the movement of coal and coke, but the receiver is responsible for what happens next.

If the receiver doesn’t want to run a sale, it will probably result in the death of steelmaking on Teesside.

The Redcar ovens, which workers say have at least 25 years of life left in them, are capable of producing a million tonnes of coke a year, which costs about $100m per annum in fuel alone to run.

If the receiver decides to keep the ovens going, even in their loss-making state, it would suggest they have a long-term plan to market the site as a combined blast furnace and coke battery operation.

However, they could also choose to let the coke ovens collapse, putting them permanently out of action, and try to sell the blast furnace on its own, but that would limit its appeal to potential owners.