AN engineering student is on the crest of a wave after securing a subsea sector apprenticeship.

Darlington College student Rosalyn Mitchell has been taken on by subsea specialists Supergrip, whose headquarters are in Coniscliffe Road, working four days a week in industry and one in the classroom.

The 19-year-old, who has completed a two year full-time extended diploma in engineering at the college, is already working on a pipeline project ensuring the safety of gas workers in Malaysia.

She said: “I always wanted to work in engineering, either in the air or below the sea, and at college hydraulics was my favourite subject.

"I was inspired on a school visit to the college when I was 14 and saw its subsea robot. I’m really enjoying the higher apprenticeship with Supergrip as I’m involved with real projects which are so varied.”

Supergrip director and Darlington College alumni, Gordon Conlon, said: “It’s a tough sector, but we trebled our turnover and profits last year and I wanted to take on someone as an apprentice to offer them a chance like I was given."