A TRAINING plant being built by TTE Management and Technical Training on Teesside has proved an excellent training opportunity for six apprentices.

The plant at TTE'S South Bank Training Centre has been built by Corus Northern Engineering Services (CNES), where the trainees, who are all in their fourth year, have gained valuable hands-on experience while on placements.

During their time at the facility, the trainees worked on the installation, manufacture and commissioning of the plant and completed work for their NVQ level three assessment.

The completed plant will be the only one of its kind in the UK and will allow future TTE trainees an opportunity to train on a fully replicated chemical plant.

Les Swain, CNES electrical and process control workshops manager, said: "We have been involved in most aspects of this project and having our TTE sponsored trainees working alongside has been an added bonus."

Peter Jackson, TTE group business director, said: "The work being carried out by CNES at the South Bank Training Centre is an excellent example of how trainees develop and are able to bring existing skills to sponsoring companies.

"TTE actively encourage partnerships with local business and each year places around 120 trainees in specialist placements of this kind."