A NORTH-EAST student has beaten off competition from 3,000 applicants to secure an apprenticeship targeted at 100 of the UK’s most talented A-level students.

Amy Hart, a student at Queen Elizabeth Sixth Form College, in Darlington, will join the Civil Service Fast Track Apprenticeship Scheme in the summer.

The higher apprenticeship, for which 3,000 young people applied, was recently introduced by the Cabinet Office and Civil Service, with Miss Hart, 18, among the first intake.

Promoting apprenticeships, as well as A-level, vocational and degree level study, is a key aim of the national award winning Foundation for Jobs, which aims to demonstrate there are a wider range of options to enter various careers than many young people may be aware of.

Foundation for Jobs is a joint initiative involving The Northern Echo, Darlington Borough Council and the Darlington Partnership of private firms and public sector organisations and has enjoyed support from businesses and industrialists across the whole North-East region.

The campaign, which has supported more than 3,000 young people aged 24 and under, has worked with industry, particularly small businesses which may have never recruited an apprentice before, to create 271 new apprenticeship places since its launch in 2012.

Miss Hart will start her new role after completing her A-levels in French, English Language and English Literature.

She said: “After being successful in the initial application process, I was invited to attend a rigorous and challenging assessment day where I was told that there had been around 3,000 applicants for this year's scheme.

“So, as you can imagine, I was completely shocked and overwhelmed to receive a position.

"I’m extremely happy and grateful to have been offered this apprenticeship and look forward to the experience and opportunities which are sure to follow."

Miss Hart will take part in a two-year apprenticeship programme.

She will then be able to apply for graduate career opportunities managed by the Civil Service’s corporate talent programme

Cathy Hodgson, Miss Hart’s careers adviser at the Queen Elizabeth Sixth Form College, said: “Amy thoroughly deserves this amazing opportunity.

“She sought advice and guidance from the careers team throughout the process, so I had every confidence in her abilities and was thrilled when I heard her wonderful news. I wish her every success."

Any firms interested in finding out more about recruiting apprentices should contact owen.mcateer@darlington.gov.uk or go to www.foundationforjobs.co.uk