A TEENAGER from Middlesbrough is well on his way to joining the next generation of auf wiedersehn brickies, thanks to a tailor-made support scheme.

Stewart Aziz, from the town's Park End estate, is receiving on-the-job apprentice training, after completing an Entry to Employment course, called e2e.

The scheme was set up by the Learning and Skills Council Tees Valley in response to calls from the Modern Apprenticeship Advisory Committee for a scheme to prepare young people who needed further preparation before beginning an apprenticeship.

The teenager is one of 18 e2e students to successfully move on to work-based learning this year. Last summer, 149 youngsters progressed from e2e into work-based learning.

Pam Eccles, executive director with the skills council, says e2e is an excellent way to bridge the gap between school and either employment or training.

"The value of e2e is that it helps the learner to achieve the levels of qualification required by most employers," she said.

Stewart said: "I have achieved qualifications in health and safety and level one in key skills. This has helped me prepare for an apprenticeship and I am really enjoying learning in a working environment, which is more appealing to me than classroom-based education.''