A STUDENT has been selected for a national race and gender equality campaign.

Jemma Branthwaite, 19, from Hutton Rudby, appears on the front of a booklet promoting equality and diversity and a new DVD, which shows people from a range of backgrounds and careers.

The campaign, run by the Gender Equality and Racial Inclusion (Geri) group, is designed to tackle stereotyping and prejudice at work by promoting equality and diversity.

Featuring interviews with 100 workers, the DVD provides role models to young adults.

It will be shown in schools, colleges and by learning and guidance professionals across the UK.

Jemma, an apprentice instrumentation engineer, was selected because she is working in a traditionally male industry. She is in the second year of her student engineering programme at TTE Technical Training Group's Edison House training centre, in South Bank, Middlesbrough.

She has secured sponsorship from Corus to complete her two-year advanced apprenticeship, which begins in September.

She said: "If anyone, male or female, regardless of age or background, is interested in engineering, my advice is ignore any discouragement; just get stuck in and go for it."