SCIENCE company Synetix is doing its best to halt the brain drain of scientific talent from the North-East to the US.

Four employees who started on the company's trainee scientist scheme, have graduated this week with honours degrees from the University of Teesside.

Dave Buggey, Lorraine Clements, Chris Young and Claire Cahill started their training six years ago, spending the past four years at Billingham company Synetix, part of the ICI group.

Nicola Young, manager of the trainee scientist scheme at Synetix, said: "All four employees have gained excellent results and show what can be achieved through the scheme and dedicated support. Finding young talented individuals keeps us all at the top of our field and our scheme offers them the experience in a broad range of areas and paid employment in return."

The scheme gives students who do not necessarily want to go to university an opportunity to continue their science studies while gaining valuable paid industrial work experience.

The trainee moves every six months to different departments within Synetix and Uniqema's Billingham and Wilton sites, giving them the chance to work with different technologies and processes.

Synetix specialises in the catalysis, the science that speeds up the processes that produce products such as fuels, medicines, food, clothes, paints, agrochemicals, packaging and inks.

Uniqema is a global speciality chemicals business launched in 1999 from the combination of five ICI businesses. It is a world leader in the field of oleochemicals and surfactants used in skin creams, paints, air conditioning compressors and crop protection products.

For more information about the trainee scientist scheme and entry for next year's intake, contact Sue Magson at Synetix on (01642) 522142 or email sue_magson

Michelle Graham