DESPITE the economic downturn and fall in orders, prospects are still good for school leavers who want to carve out a career in construction and civil engineering in the North-East, it was said yesterday.

Peter Samuel, chairman of the Civil Engineering Contractors Association (CECA) North-East, said he expects that groundbreaking courses of apprenticeships – inaugurated in the North-East and now in their third year – may prove even more successful this year.

He added: “Even at this difficult time in our industry, we must be more pro-active in employing operative trainees in order to have a sustainable future.

“Working with local colleges and ConstructionSkills, we’ve been able to start NVQ2 courses in civil engineering apprenticeship in 2007 and 2008.”

“Though this was the first such course – not only in the North-East but nationally – we were able to attract sufficient intake to have two courses each year.”

Mr Samuel’s comments came as the winners of the CECA awards for trainees were given, which saw Marc Pearson named as the North- East Trainee of the Year.

Mr Pearson, who works for Carillion Civil Engineering in Gateshead, was also named most promising trainee quantity surveyor.

Stuart Turner, of Balfour Beatty Civil Engineering in Newcastle, was named most promising trainee civil engineer.

Peter Bamford, of Seymour (Civil Engineering Contractors) in Hartlepool, was named apprentice of the year.