Member Article

NETA’s talent for turning out top engineers puts Teesside on the national stage

When it comes to raising generations of engineers, few have got a patch on Stockton’s own NETA Training.

With a longstanding history serving employers on Teesside, the training centre has been turning out up and coming young talent for over 40 years.

This week the team will once again show why Teesside is a cut above when it comes to building the skills that matter, with NETA in the running for two prestigious national training awards.

Named finalists in two categories of the ECITB’s Engineering Construction Industry Training & Development Awards, NETA’s Managing Director Phil Blewitt said: “We are extremely honoured to have been selected. This is recognition of the hard work and dedication shown each and every day by our learners and staff and the confidence that external organisations such as the ECITB have in us.”

One of just a handful of training providers across England and Wales selected to deliver the latest round of the ECITB-backed Introduction to Engineering Construction (ITEC) programme, NETA is now one of three finalists shortlisted for the Approved Training Provider title.

But it isn’t just the centre that has been attracting national attention, with NETA student David Morgan also taking to the national stage, listed in the final three for ITEC Learner of the Year.

David, 18, received a job offer just weeks into his ITEC course, among the first ITEC students nationally to secure an apprenticeship job offer last year.

Now an apprentice mechanical engineer at PD Ports, he said: “It all happened pretty quickly for me, from starting the course to getting the job and now this. It’s all good stuff.

“I was happy to be nominated and surprised to be shortlisted. I’m looking forward to going to London this week and feel happy to have got as far as I have. If I win then that is a bonus.”

The ITEC programme aims to help tackle the drop in apprenticeships offered across the country. NETA was allocated 12 ECITB places this year.

Managing Director Phil said: “We are very proud that one of our ECITB sponsored learners, David, has being selected by the judging panel as a national finalist. We will be keeping our fingers crossed for him on the night and we know he will be flying the flag for Teesside and showcasing the technical engineering skills that our region’s young people have.

“NETA continues to be one of the North-east’s leading training providers and it is fantastic to be recognised nationally for the work that we do.”

The winners of the ECITB Engineering Construction Industry Training & Development Awards will be announced at a glittering award ceremony in London this Thursday.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Marie Turbill .