STUDENT surveyors in the North-East now have the chance to get paid for studying and have a guaranteed job when they leave university.

Lecturers at Northumbria University's school of the built environment have launched a sponsorship scheme in which companies back students with cash.

Each package will be worth at least £16,500 over the period through to graduation and there will be a job with a guaranteed salary at the end of the course.

The scheme, which is backed by the Royal Institute for Chartered Surveyors in the North-East, begins next year.

So far, seven companies have signed up to the programme -Tolent Construction, Faithful and Gould, John Sisk and Son Ltd, Walter Thompson, Balfour Beatty, Interserve Building and Sir Robert McAlpine.

Anyone interested in the sponsorship scheme should contact Gary Best on 0191-227 4722.