NINE apprentices are building a career after securing work with a civil engineering firm.

The Owen Pugh Group says the group will be trained in various disciplines, such as plant operations and plant mechanics.

The youngsters include Daniel Craiggs, Oliver Pratt, Paul Anderson, Hans Paulsen, Lewis Russell, Sean Dowling and Alex Davison.

They are undertaking a level three advanced apprenticeship diploma with the company, which will see them become civil engineers by 2016.

The firm, which has its headquarters in Dudley, Northumberland, has also welcomed Joseph Hutchinson as a trainee plant operative and Joe Horner as a plant mechanic apprentice.

Bosses say the move takes Owen Pugh’s workforce to more than 400 staff.

Mr Pratt, 18, will focus on estimating, civil engineering and quantity surveying in his time with the company.

He said: “It’s fantastic to be given the opportunity to undertake an apprenticeship at such a well-established construction firm.”

Martin Forster, general manager for Owen Pugh Contracts, added: “So often young people are not given the opportunity to train and develop skills that will get their career off the ground.

“However, we were so impressed by the calibre of young people it gave us a great amount of faith in apprenticeships as a means of meeting our business needs.”

Last week, Owen Pugh revealed turnover increased 16 per cent to £37.3m for the year ending March 2014, with gross profits up 20 per cent to £8.2m.

At the start of the year, its GDC subsidiary moved into a new depot in Blaydon, North Tyneside, to grow the business, which carries out drainage, flood alleviation and regeneration work for local authorities and water utility firms.

Owen Pugh also runs an aggregate base in Marsden Quarry, South Tyneside, and operates its HCS Drains Service division in Stockton.