THE UK’s only mine which excavates potash for the fertiliser industry is taking steps to expand its workforce.

Since Cleveland Potash started mining in East Cleveland in the early Seventies, it has developed into a major organisation and employer, with about 800 direct workers and 5,000 people indirectly employed by the mine.

Among the workforce at the Boulby mine, near Loftus, are 26 apprentices from the local area, all working in engineering disciplines as part of a fouryear advanced apprenticeship.

One of its apprentices, 19-year-old Chris Morrison, has already excelled, having been named the Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining technician of the year in 2009.

Craig Hargreaves, training manager at Cleveland Potash, said: “Faced with the need to replace people who are retiring and the changing culture of our organisation, apprenticeships have become an integral part of our people development and succession planning strategies.

“To maintain our leading edge, we are looking for a steady flow of multi-skilled engineering apprentices who can support different parts of our operational activity, from mining through to mineral processing.

Apprenticeships provide a solid skills base to do this.”