CAREER advisors on Teesside have judged an initiative for young jobseekers to be a success.

The Learning and Skills Council Tees Valley hit on the idea of workshops for young people to help them choose their careers and focus on the qualifications they need.

The council says it is confident that the so-called VIP days have helped motivate and encourage many young learners.

The sessions included individual and team activities and tips on juggling tasks and goals.

Two apprentices, Danielle Marshall and Shaun Nixon, from HBS Training Centre in Middlesbrough, attended a VIP day at the Riverside Stadium, home of Middlesbrough Football Club.

Danielle, 17, has since been offered a permanent position with HBS IT services working with Middlesbrough Council.

She said: "I am over the moon. The day really helped me understand how I could motivate myself and develop my own career.''

Within two weeks of attending a VIP day, Shaun was offered a job in Middlesbrough Council's housing department.

He said: "The VIP Day helped me realise that I really wanted to pursue a career within the housing sector. It is such a rewarding job, I am able to help people, sometimes in very difficult personal situations, and sort out their housing.''