A TRANSPORT firm is recruiting apprentices for its rail engineering division.

Nexus says it wants ten youngsters to join its autumn intake.

The company, which owns and manages the Tyne and Wear Metro, runs its apprenticeship scheme alongside Gateshead College, with students dividing their time between studies and Nexus’ base in South Gosforth, Tyneside.

Raymond Johnstone, Nexus’ director of rail and infrastructure, said the company needed to attract younger workers to avoid a potential skills gap.

He said the firm has a long history of employing apprentices, but added it has more than doubled the size of its programme from four to ten new starters.

He added: “This delivers an excellent standard of vocational training, with successful applicants going on to the first rung of the ladder of an exciting career in the railway industry.

“It’s also vital we lower the average age of our workforce and ensure we have people with the right skills coming through to keep the Metro running for years to come.”

Anyone interested in applying for an apprenticeship should visit nexus.org.uk/careers/nexus-apprenticeship-scheme