Darlington Building Society has launched an innovative scheme offering talented students the chance to develop a career with the society.

The Youth Development Scheme is designed for successful A-level students who want to work rather than go to university.

Rebecca Johnson and Jannicke Stanford, both from Darlington, and Nicola Cooper, from Richmond, are the first to be selected for the two-year scheme. All three are former pupils of Queen Elizabeth Sixth Form College in Darlington and their A-level results would have gained them places at the university of their choice.

They will experience the full range of Darlington Building Society's growing business activities during their two-year course. As well as learning about its core mortgage and savings services, they will also experience working in a branch, get to grips with Deal, the society's estate agency arm, and Darlington Homes, which is in the process of building 30 apartments in Stanhope Road, Darlington.

The three will also spend one day a week studying for the Certificate in Financial Services Practice and Certificate in Mortgage Advice and Practice. The investment in this ongoing educational process, which can lead to a recognised degree, is seen by the society as vital to the long-term success of the venture.

The scheme aims to provide a genuinely stimulating and interesting challenge and hopes to provide a platform for those taking part to develop a long and rewarding career with the society.

Peter Rowley, chief executive of Darlington Building Society, said: "Attracting talented young people like Nicola, Rebecca and Jannicke is vital to the long-term success of the society. The society is dedicated to looking after local interests and we feel this scheme provides a genuine and rewarding alternative to university for talented individuals in the local area."

Nicola Cooper said: "I am really looking forward to the challenges of the next two years. The ongoing educational aspect was an important element of the scheme's attraction, but the chance to work for such a well regarded local organisation was simply too good to miss.