As part of our Foundation for Jobs campaign, this column is devoted to a young person so they can issue a give-me-a chance call to local firms.

Name: Arran Fuller
Age: 17
From: Newton Aycliffe
Studying: Toolmaking at South West Durham Training
Looking for: An apprenticeship.

Arran attended St Johns School in Bishop Auckland where he took his GCSEs and "got all the grades that I wanted."

Then he decided to sign up at the Queen Elizabeth Sixth Form College, in Darlington, for one year, where he studied information technology.

The next step was to sign up for a toolmaking course at South West Durham in Newton Aycliffe. "Hopefully I should come out with an NVQ Level 2 qualification in toolmaking," said Arran. "My dad used to do toolmaking when he was younger. I am also interested in technical drawing. That family link is what got me into engineering," he added. "It is really good here at South West Durham Training. You get a good balance of theory and practice."

With a potential employer in mind, Arran, said: "I am really passionate about engineering. I am hard-working and a good timekeeper."

Any firm which may be able to help Arrang in his quest for an apprenticeship is asked to call 013250505075 or email barry.nelson@nne.co.uk