Career is taking off early for Tim

Blue Coat School pupil Tim Winter has been awarded an apprenticeship with Rolls Royce, Derby

HIGH-FLYING student Tim Winter could help to make the aeroplane engines of the future, after being accepted on a prestigious training scheme.

The Blue Coat School head boy will start a three-year apprenticeship with Rolls Royce in September.

He beat competition from thousands of applicants - more than for Oxford and Cambridge universities combined - to win a place at its apprenticeship academy.

It is is based at the UK's largest Rolls Royce plant in Derby, which has 12,000 employees and produces civil aerospace and submarine engines.

Tim from Glossop originally wanted to study aerospace engineering at university, but changed his mind after doing work experience to support his degree application with the company last summer.

"I enjoyed the problem-solving aspect and applying my knowledge to real-life situations.

" I felt like I was part of a team and I was working on a project that would be used - which felt like a real achievement," explained the 17-year-old.

The teenager, who is studying maths, chemistry and physics A-levels, had to complete a day-long series of interviews before being accepted as an apprentice.

He will complete a series of three-month placements in different areas of the company and said: "I'm very excited. You do an NVQ qualification and have the opportunity to do a degree, with the prospect of a job at the end.

"You get paid and you don't have any debts!

"I'm delighted to have this opportunity.

"Rolls Royce is the leader in engine technology and it will be a great place to learn on the job," Tim continued.