A TRUCK manufacturing plant has taken on ten apprentices.

Caterpillar’s Peterlee plant, which manufactures the firm’s articulated trucks, received more than 150 applications for the ten welding and fabrication apprenticeships.

The recruits, who are aged between 17 and 19 and from the east Durham and Sunderland areas, have joined an 800-strong workforce at the site.

As part of their apprenticeship, each is taking part in a three to fouryear structured training programme with the intention that they continue their careers with Caterpillar once qualified.

Apprentice manager Fred Felton said: “Although the make-up of apprenticeships has changed over the years, Caterpillar sees the value of this type of high-quality training programme. You only have to look back 30 years or so to our ‘apprentices of old’, to see that many are still employed here today and are working in senior management, supervisory or technical roles.”