A TRAINING centre is producing apprentices, tailor-made to the requirements of engineering companies across Britain, said its boss.

Keith Hunter, managing director of TTE Management and Technical Training, in South Bank, Middlesbrough, said the centre had been listening to the demands of industry and shaped its training programme accordingly.

Aspiring engineers and their parents are being invited to an open evening at the Riverside Stadium, Middlesbrough, tomorrow, at 6.30pm, to hear about TTE's Student Engineering Programme (Step).

Mr Hunter said: "We have worked closely with industry to understand the type of employee that would be beneficial to the running of their operations.

"Employers across the UK are realising that our unique Step model produces safe, well-trained and skilled technicians, who, once they have completed advanced apprenticeship, are highly valued members of tomorrow's workforce."

TTE has about 200 young people on its Step programme and 140 apprentices placed with employers across the UK.

The two-year engineering and process training programme, which begins again in September, covers many disciplines including instrumentation, machining, chemical, mechanical fitting and electrical engineering.

Mr Hunter said: "The Tees Valley has a wealth of talented young people who, through structured vocational learning, can carve themselves rewarding and long careers in engineering. This event will help school and college leavers understand the options open to them and the value of vocational education."

TTE works closely with the Learning and Skills Council and industry across the area to arrange as many sponsored advanced apprenticeship places for its young people as possible.