A FORMER apprentice who became the boss at a training organisation has left his position.

Lee Childs has stepped down as chief executive at South West Durham Training (SWDT).

The former SWDT student, who joined Spennymoor’s Black and Decker as an engineering apprentice nearly two decades ago, has taken a role at Sora Group, a training and coaching business based in Monkton.

However, he said he is now looking forward to making his mark at Monkton based Sora, after seeking a new challenge.

Mr Childs joined SWDT, based in Newton Aycliffe, County Durham, in 2015, taking over from Trevor Alley, who had steered the base to an outstanding Ofsted report.

The former head of engineering and automotive technology at Darlington College subsequently built on that platform by introducing new training packages that helped increase student numbers.

However, he said he is now looking forward to making his mark at Sora after seeking a new challenge.

“I’ve thoroughly enjoyed my two years as chief executive and I think we’ve made some huge progress during that time”, said Mr Childs.

“It’s been an interesting period, particularly with the introduction of the apprenticeship levy and new training provisions, but SWDT has adapted to those changes and actually grasped them as an opportunity.

“We’ve evolved in a very short space of time and SWDT is now working with more employers and the highest number of learners it has for a few years.

“I’m proud of what’s been achieved and sure the organisation will continue to build on that good work.”

Operating as a subsidiary of Bishop Auckland College, SWDT works with a number of firms, such as Aycliffe-based trainbuilder Hitachi Rail Europe and lawnmower maker Husqvarna, and Darlington engine manufacturer Cummins.

It has more than 300 learners on its books and will celebrate its 50th year in December Speaking to The Northern Echo at his appointment in 2015, Mr Childs said he was looking forward to improving youngsters’ awareness of apprenticeships at SWDT, by using his own experiences as a marker of their potential.

He said: “High quality apprenticeships are an absolute must for the future success of manufacturing and engineering in the country.

“We know we have an ageing workforce in the North-East, and for companies, apprenticeships really do make sense.

“It’s an ideal way to train and it isn’t a second-class route either.

“A lot of the guys I have worked with over the years have been former apprentices.

“Companies, such as GlaxoSmithKline (which runs a plant in Barnard Castle), really value the apprenticeship model; they understand it and really get it.”