THOUSANDS of North-East students will vie for accolades in a new awards scheme to recognise their achievements in education and training.

Colleges across the Tees Valley have formed FE+, which is staging its first joint awards ceremony in April with the backing of the Government and companies and groups such as The Northern Echo, the Royal Bank of Scotland, Huntsman Tioxide and the University of Teesside.

With prize money totalling almost £4,000, winners will be chosen in 11 categories, with the overall winner of the competition receiving the title of Tees Valley Student of the Year.

Students from Cleveland College of Art and Design, Darlington College of Technology, Hartlepool College of Further Education, Middlesbrough College, Redcar and Cleveland College and Stockton Riverside College will take part.

The award categories are:

* The Engineering Industry Award, sponsored by Heerema;

* The Construction Industry Award, sponsored by Darlington Borough Council;

* The Computing and Information Technology Award, sponsored by Dell;

*l The Hair and Beauty Industry Award, sponsored by Salon Services Hair and Beauty Limited;

*l The Hospitality and Catering Industry Award, sponsored by Middlesbrough College;

* The Leisure, Sport, Travel and Tourism Industry Award, sponsored by Hartlepool Borough Council;

* The Health and Social Care Award, sponsored by North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Trust;

* The Business, Management and Professional Award, sponsored by The Northern Echo;

* The Creative Arts Award, sponsored by Saville Audio Visual;

* The Design and Media Industry Award, sponsored by Niven Architects;

* The Academic Achievement Award, sponsored by the University of Teesside;

* The Tees Valley Student of the Year Award, sponsored by the Learning and Skills Council.

One student per college will be nominated by their tutors in each category after taking into consideration their backgrounds, achievements and progress. An independent panel of judges will select the 11 category winners and the overall student of the year.

Results will be revealed at an awards ceremony and gala dinner for about 600 guests at Tall Trees, Yarm, on April 28.

FE+ marketing chairman David Waddington, the principal-designate of Hartlepool College, said: "This will be a high-profile opportunity to showcase the remarkable success of learners in the further education sector.

"It will also reinforce the significant contribution that Tees Valley colleges are making to support the Government's skill strategy."