A CALL centre operator is working with budding young entrepreneurs to help prepare them for the world of work.

T-Mobile, from Sunderland, invited eight pupils from the city's Hetton School to the call centre at Doxford Park, as part of the Young Enterprise Project Business programme.

Project Business is a partnership between education and business aimed at preparing students aged between 15 and 19 for the world of work by providing an insight into economic and business life.

T-Mobile has had a long-standing relationship with Young Enterprise North-East, part of regional development agency One North-East's regional strategy, which offers learning programmes to provide students with an understanding of how business works.

Steve Martin, Young Enterprise business relations manager, said: "Using a mix of practical exercises, seminars and business visits, we are successfully bringing the world of work into the classroom.

"Our Young Enterprise programmes are helping to foster positive working relationships between local business and education and are preparing young people for the adult working environment."