Member Article

Process industry celebrates Teesside Apprenticeship achievements

The achievements of a group of Teesside apprentices have been celebrated at a major industry awards event.

The annual Tees Valley Production Technician (TVPT) Awards celebrated the success of 10 apprentices sponsored by a variety of process industry companies located in the area.

The group has now graduated after a four-year apprenticeship programme, which included two years at The TTE Technical Training Group followed by two years on site with their sponsoring company.

Significantly, each member of the group has gone on to secure permanent employment with their sponsoring companies including Sembcorp, Chemoxy, Lotte Chemical, Lucite International, Huntsman Tioxide and Huntsman Polyurethanes.

At the event, which was held at the Middlesbrough Training and Learning Centre, Daniel Carter, from Coulby Newham, sponsored by SABIC, was named Best 4th Year Apprentice.

Highly commended were Sembcorp-sponsored Chelsea Passmore from Guisborough and Jordan Honeyman from Marton and Jordan Smuthwaite from Hartlepool, who was sponsored by Lucite International.

The awards also recognised the achievements of the young people part-way through their training.

From the group of second years, who have just completed their term at TTE and are about to embark on their placements with their sponsoring companies, Michael Atkinson from Hartburn was named best trainee.

Highly commended were Leanne Bartlett from Hartlepool, from Adam Tinkler from Thornaby and Amy Gillings from Acklam.

George Ritchie, Senior Vice President for Sembcorp Utilities UK and one of the founders of the TVPT programme, said: “TVPT clearly demonstrates the value of investing in apprentices.

“The programme’s sponsoring companies are now benefiting from their commitment to these apprentices who have developed into skilled and talented young engineers.

“These apprentices are following in the footsteps of a number of very successful TVPT graduates and I wish them well for, what I am sure will be, prosperous careers the process industry.”

Also in attendance at the event was the latest intake of TVPT apprentices, the tenth group to embark on the programme since its launch in 2004.

The group gave a short presentation about the team building away day they recently took part in.

The TVPT programme has proven to be a successful collaboration between process industry companies with support from TTE.

Nearly all of the 170 graduates have gone on to find permanent employment with their sponsoring companies.

All have completed High National Certificate (HNC) qualifications in chemical engineering with some registered on chemical engineering courses at Teesside University.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Martin Walker .