A FORMER secondary school teacher is helping youngsters to get to grips with engineering.

Geoff Clack has taken over as Setpoint manager at the Engineering Employers' Federation (EEF) Northern, overseeing projects and facilities to encourage the next generation of engineers.

Setpoint, based at the EEF Northern headquarters in Washington is part of a national network that works on behalf of the Government, business, industry and education to assist with curriculum activities.

Part of his role involves Mr Clack, who used to teach in Durham, organising a programme of engineers' ambassador visits to schools.

He said: "Engineering offers a huge range of wonderful career opportunities for young people in the North-East.

"Our future prosperity as a region and as a country depends on a strong generation of young engineers coming forward, and I'm delighted to be in a position to encourage that development."