YOUNG people in Tyne and Wear will be encouraged to take up the exciting challenges of engineering in a new project.

Setpoint Tyne and Wear acts as a single point of contact, supporting the development of the science, technology, engineering and mathematics agenda of the new local Learning and Skills Council (LSC) for the county.

Nationally, LSCs took over from Training and Enterprise Councils on April 1, channelling funding into the regions for training.

SetPoint formerly covered the whole of the North, but has now been divided into four areas and aims to develop and strengthen links between education and business in each.

Tyne and Wear SetPoint will be run by the Northern Association of the Engineering Employers' Federation (EEF), in Washington.

SetPoint forms part of the Tyne and Wear Education Business Link Organisation, a consortium which will contract with the LSC to deliver education business link services.

EEF education advisor Martin Smith, said: "We want more and more young people to see engineering as a rewarding career, they are the future of the nation.

The EEF represents almost 300 manufacturing companies across the North. Mr Smith said: "Tyne and Wear has a tremendous reputation as a base for manufacturing."

For details about SetPoint contact Martin Smith or Pauline Hopper at the EEF Northern Association, on (0191) 416 5656.