A NORTH-East lawyer has turned her back on the courtroom to begin a new career as a welder.

Blanche Debenham, 52, from Newcastle, made the dramatic job switch after being made redundant from her role as an in-house lawyer for national energy efficiency company Eaga, following its takeover by Carillion plc.

Now, with help from The Eaga Trust, she has recently completed her NVQ Level 2 exam in TIG welding and seen off competition from her all-male classmates to scoop the Gateshead College welding prize. 

“I worked for Eaga for four years and, when I lost my job, in June 2011, I decided it was time to do something completely different,” she said.

“I’ve always enjoyed making things and I love metalwork so welding seemed like a really good choice and I was hugely fortunate in securing at place at Gateshead Engineering College, which has a superb reputation in this field.

“When I heard that The Eaga Trust helped former employees who wanted to learn a new skill I decided to contact them and the support, both financial and moral, that they’ve given me has been wonderful.”

The Trust was formed to promote employee engagement and ownership and, following the sale of Eaga plc to Carillion plc, is using some of its funds to help former employees retrain or set up their own businesses in line with its aims of promoting employee owned businesses. 

Any of the some 7,500 people who had worked for Eaga prior to its sale to Carillion can register to join The Eaga Trust.

So far about half have come forward and the Trust wants to hear from the rest.

Under the terms of the Trust a skill-builder fund was set up to enhance people’s training, skills and education with a view to improving their employment prospects - and it is this fund which has been set aside to provide the £1000 skill-builder account for every single registered Trust member.

In addition to the skill-builder fund The Eaga Trust has launched a business support programme where Trust members can not only apply for loans to start their own business but receive expert support and advice from the Trust, which may even help with some initial set up costs.                     

Ashley Dean, chief executive at The Eaga Trust said:

“We are very keen to help all our registered Trust members and we are delighted Blanche is well on her way to embarking on a new career, which she clearly loves.”

Anyone who thinks they may be eligible for Trust membership and access £1000 available under the skill-builder fund, get help starting their own business or use the other employment support initiatives, should register their membership on The eaga Trust website www.eagatrust.com, where they will be asked to provide details of their past employment at Eaga.

Further information can be obtained via the website www.eagatrust.com.