Tees Business Tees Business issue 19 | Page 101

The voice of business in the Tees region | 101 / REDCAR AND CLEVELAND NEWS A new intake of 15 apprentices has been selected to join Sirius Minerals’ Advanced Engineering Technician programme. SIRIUS ABOUT APPRENTICES AS 15 NEW RECRUITS JOIN FIRM Teesport is one of the UK’s most important sea ports, servicing more than 5,000 vessels each year and processing in excess of 40 million tons of cargo. The £650m Tees Renewable Energy Plant, which has created 600 jobs during construction, will produce 2.3 TWh of low carbon electricity every year – enough to power 600,000 homes, as well as supplying heat for nearby users. #TalkingUpTeesside #TalkingUpTeesValley T he first intake of 15 new apprentices have been selected to join Sirius Minerals’ Advanced Engineering Technician programme, starting in September. The successful applicants attended an introduction day with a tour of the multi-billion pound project they’ll be working on. Over 1,000 people applied for the ten positions advertised, and following a series of skills tests and interviews, the final 48 were invited to Sirius’ head office in Scarborough for an assessment day last month. The company was so impressed by the high standard of applicants that it offered an additional five places to the ten originally advertised. The successful candidates are aged 16 and upwards and are the first of 50 engineering apprentices that will be recruited over the next four years, providing skilled and long-term opportunities for young people across the local area. All 15 live within the project area – in Whitby, Redcar and Cleveland, Scarborough and Middlesbrough. The new opportunities come as Sirius ramps up the construction of its polyhalite fertiliser project at Woodsmith Mine, near Whitby, and a tunnel to new processing and port facilities in Teesside. The project is scheduled to reach the polyhalite seam, 1,500m underground, in late 2021 and is expected to create 1,000 long-term jobs at full production. Matt Parsons, general manager external affairs at Sirius Minerals, said: “We have a longstanding commitment to train a local workforce, take on apprentices and help young people to learn and progress in the careers. “I’m absolutely delighted that we will be joined by our new apprentices.” Roundabout open in £1m development corporation access scheme Work to construct a roundabout as part of a £1m South Tees Development Corporation site access scheme has now been completed. The project, delivered by local construction contractor Hall Construction Services, is the first stage in the delivery of a comprehensive, site-wide transportation infrastructure network to support major regeneration of the area. The scheme will enable access to 350 acres of development opportunity in the Development Corporation, including 1.3 kilometres of river frontage; land which is primed for the first wave of investors. 150 MORE JOBS AT WHITBY MINE Sirius Minerals’ shaft sinking contractor, DMC Mining UK, has announced 150 more jobs for the construction of the new multi-billion pound polyhalite fertiliser mine. DMC is currently looking for experienced miners, electricians and deck operatives to help the company sink two deep mineshafts at Sirius’ Woodsmith Mine near Whitby. DMC will be inviting people with the relevant skills and experience to two information sessions that are being held in Whitby and Grangetown. Tees Components’ commitment to apprenticeships recognised by major awards Tees Components has been recognised for its focus on apprenticeships after it was shortlisted for the North East final of a major national awards scheme. The Skelton-based company has been nominated in the SME Employer category at the awards, which take place at the Newcastle Gateshead Hilton. Part of a programme of regional events for the National Apprenticeship Awards 2019, winners progress to a national final later this year. REDCAR SOLICITOR GAINS RECOGNITION Cygnet Law solicitor Eleanor Barber has received the prestigious Children Law accreditation. The Children Law Accreditation provides a recognised quality standard for practitioners representing children in children law proceedings and is a means to identify suitably qualified practitioners when representation of a child is required. Eleanor joined Redcar-based Cygnet in 2012 and qualified as a solicitor in 2015. Eleanor progressed her career as an advocate, regularly appearing in court advising and advocating on complex cases for local authorities and families.