A NORTH-EAST college is helping almost 1,000 apprentices embark on a successful career, new figures show.

As National Apprenticeship Week begins today, the number of apprentices studying at Askham Bryan have gone up by 3.7 per cent for the year 2017/18 – from a total of 868 for 2016/17, to the most recent figure of 900.

The college, which has its main campus in York, along with satellite sites in Middlesbrough, Newcastle and Cumbria, specialises in rurally based education, with some 5,000 students, plus a further 900 apprentices, studying courses ranging from agriculture to vet nursing, horticulture and engineering.

The Northern Echo:

The students and apprentices are also boosted by partnerships with around 800 employers across the North, helping them with their first career steps.

Catherine Dixon, the college’s chief executive said: “This method of learning is a very effective way of up-skilling young people who literally earn while they learn; it not only benefits the individual’s future career prospects and assists employers by increasing their employee’s skills, but also helps to boost the local economy.

"Askham Bryan has run apprenticeship courses for many years and thus we have huge experience and knowledge.”

The college works in partnership with a range of businesses and organisations providing apprentices with the technical skills and national qualifications needed to complement their employment learning.

An awards evening will be held at the college on Wednesday to recognise the achievements of some two dozen young people as well as employers and tutors.

Amongst those currently studying at Askham Bryan are 16-year-old Archie Lamb from Thirsk, Mathew Craggs, aged 17 from Rosedale near Pickering and April Wimmer, 19, from Easingwold who are employed by North York Moors National Park.

All three are studying for their Level Two diplomas in environmental conservation.

Archie said: “The apprenticeship works really well for me, I’m loving it – it’s been a great decision.

"Most of the time I’m working outside then I go to Askham Bryan for three days a month for my portfolio work and to learn the business and technical side of things.”

Steve Young of the North York Moors National Park Authority, said: “We’ve worked with Askham Bryan on the apprenticeship programme since 2005 and it’s very successful. It was set up to train a pool of youngsters in traditional practical skills with the necessary qualifications and business skills to complement them, and it does just that.”