A TEENAGE girl is laying the foundations of a career by doing her dream job.

Eighteen-year-old Casey Bougourd has secured an apprenticeship with Absolute Civil Engineering Limited in Consett.

As the firm’s first female bricklayer, she is now building sewers and drainage systems on developments around the North-East.

Miss Bougourd, from Chopwell, said: “After leaving school I tried out a bricklaying course at Derwentside College and took to it like a fish to water.

“The trowel just felt perfect in my hand and I knew I’d found my ideal job.

“This is the best thing I’ve ever done.”

She was offered her bricklaying and groundworks apprenticeship along with two male colleagues by Absolute Civil Engineering’s commercial manager Kevin Fenley.

He said: “Casey is our first apprentice, with a further two just being selected.

“It is clear within a short time that Casey has the aspiration, motivation, discipline and the right attitude to succeed as a bricklayer or groundworker at Absolute Civil Engineering.”

Lisa Waller, business development manager from Derwentside College, said: “We are delighted Casey has secured an apprenticeship.

“She worked exceptionally hard while studying a general construction course at the college and demonstrated a real ‘flair’ for the industry.”