A FORMER chef and a student who decided against university are embarking on careers after securing apprenticeships with a leading North-East firm.

J&B Recycling recruited the pair through the North-East Chamber of Commerce, a partner in The Northern Echo’s Foundation for Jobs campaign.

Lizzie Smith has started a two year business administration apprenticeship, and Pete Dunn a logistics qualification in the Hartlepool firm’s transport office.

Ms Smith, 20, will achieve an NVQ level two qualification at the end of her apprenticeship.

She said: “When I left sixth-form I knew university wasn’t for me.

“A lot of my friends were going but I wanted to go straight into work and an apprenticeship is ideally suited because I'm learning on the job and getting paid.”

Mr Dunn, 23, previously spent seven years working as a chef.

He said: “After so many years working in kitchens, I wanted to do something completely different.

“It’s a busy office and I'm involved in arranging collections and deliveries, skip exchanges, compiling tachograph information and planning routes.

“There’s a lot to take in but I'm just about to complete my assessment portfolio and looking forward to progressing my career.”

The company employs around 145 staff and recycles more than 100,000 tonnes of waste every year for public and private sector clients.

Managing director, Vikki Jackson Smith, said: “We are a business that firmly believes in investing in the future by recruiting promising young apprentices and promoting from within.

“We wish Lizzie and Pete all the very best for their apprenticeships and look forward to watching them progress through the business.”