A NORTH-EAST college is helping youngsters prepare for a career in the automotive sector by working with a training business.

Sunderland College is partnering the NAC Group on the Youth Evolution Scheme (YES) vocational programme.

The scheme is designed to help 16 to 18-year-olds gain national engineering and manufacturing qualifications.

The YES scheme will see the NAC group work with the college to deliver a 19-week programme, including 11 weeks of interactive learning and eight weeks shadowing staff on a production line.

Julie Raine, Sunderland College assistant principal, said: “This is an excellent opportunity for young people across the region to access high quality education with real job opportunities at the end of the process.

“The apprenticeship route is becoming more and more popular with young people.

“It gives trainees an insight into the workplace and the confidence and understanding they need to become successful in their career once their training is complete.

“To be able to offer this scheme to young people at no cost, delivered by a respected training provider is great.”