EAST Durham College has taken on nine new engineering apprentices working alongside local manufacturing.

The apprentices have started on their courses this week at the college’s Technical Academy based on Peterlee’s South West Industrial Estate.

The apprentices have all been taken on in a host of different roles at Sunderland-basecd Joy Global including mechanical engineering, commercial engineering, platers, maintenance, Computerized Numerical Control (CNC), fitters and quality engineering.

The group are now set to study full time at the college before leaving in July to start their roles at Joy Global, coming back to the Technical Academy once a week to complete further qualifications.

Joy Global Inc. is a worldwide leader in high-productivity mining solutions. The company has always been on the leading edge of innovation in this industry and, with strategic investments made over the last several years, they intend to remain a mining industry leader.

East Durham College’s Apprenticeship trainer and assessor, Dion Bowes, said: “We are incredibly proud to announce this link up with Joy Global.

“They are a fantastic international company and it’s great to be able to help them in the training of their next generation of engineers.

“The nine apprentices involved are a brilliant bunch of students and they can’t wait to get started on their qualifications before starting in their new roles in the summer.”

East Durham College runs Apprenticeships in a number of areas including engineering, catering, agriculture and business admin amongst many others.

For more information on how your company can be involved in Apprenticeships with East Durham College contact the team on 0191 518 8259.