A NORTH-EAST building control firm has celebrated the first anniversary of its graduate training programme.

Aedis Group, which has offices in Darlington and Newcastle, aims to address the construction industry's skills shortage.

The company founded its training scheme in January last year after being hit by a lack of building surveyors.

After starting with one graduate, it has seen four more join the company and work towards industry qualifications.

Bosses Alan Barraclough, Joe Ayre and Steven Spence say they now plan to expand the programme, which is set to receive accreditation from the Royal Institution of Charted Surveyors, the Chartered Association of Building Engineers and the Association of Consult Approved Inspectors.

It is also wants to visit universities to speak to student surveyors, and hopes to offer work experience.

Mr Barraclough, from Guisborough, east Cleveland, said: “There is a shortage of surveyors nationally, but particularly in and around London, and we realised if we train our own staff we could help ourselves.

“We started the programme with just one graduate and there are now three in the North-East, two in Darlington and one in Newcastle, and two in London with many more to come.

“Most have done full-time surveying degrees and were looking for a career post but were in a job away from surveying to earn a living.”