PUPILS will be given a first-hand insight into the opportunities work based training offers when a recently qualified former apprentice visits their school today, writes Owen McAteer.

Thomas Murdoch, who recently completed his four year engineering apprenticeship at Darchem Engineering, is meeting pupils studying engineering at Darlington School of Maths and Science (DSMS).

His visit to meet pupils will be followed by a class trip to Darchem Engineering, which is based at Stillington, near Darlington, later in the month.

Today’s visit has been organised through Foundation for Jobs and is aimed at given pupils a better understanding of the different routeways into their chosen careers.

The visit to the plant itself will enable pupils to see techniques they have learnt in class being carried out on an industrial scale.

Now a national award-winning project, Foundation for Jobs is a joint initiative to tackle youth unemployment involving The Northern Echo, Darlington Borough Council and the Darlington Partnership of private firms and public sector organisations, which has also enjoyed support from businesses and industrialists across the whole North-East region since its launch in 2012.

Darchem Engineering, which takes on between 15 and 20 apprentices each year, has been a key supporter of Foundation for Jobs, having previously sent apprentices out to Darlington Schools in both 2012 and 2013.

Darchem employs more than 900 staff working across its five business units – covering aerospace, insulation systems, specialist fabrications, thermal protection and nuclear systems for sectors such as the motor industry, defence and oil and gas.

It is estimated that £70,000 is invested to train each apprentice at Darchem and speaking at the most recent graduation ceremony for its apprentices the company’s managing director Billy Meijer, said: “There is a substantial skills shortage in the specialist engineering/manufacturing industry and so it is our duty to develop the workforce and train them up to a very high standard.

“We continue to train because without core skills and flexibility the company cannot move forward, and so apprenticeships are a key part of our growth strategy.”

Foundation for Jobs is committed to challenging many young peoples’ perceptions of what engineering is and what engineers do, inspiring interest in a sector that is vital to the North East economy but is facing impending skills gaps with thousands of workers due to retire.

For further details on Foundation for Jobs go to www.foundationforjobs.co.uk or email owen.mcateer@darlington.gov.uk