Apprentice's future hopes

Student Joseph Melia has been offered a full-time apprenticeship place at Hargreaves Engineering Duckworth Ltd. He is pictured with Jeff Newman, a project manager at the company

NEWMAN College student Joseph Melia is celebrating after being awarded an engineering apprenticeship.

The 15-year-old was one of six young people out of 30 applicants who will join ventilation installation company Hargreaves as apprentices this summer.

He will train as a craftsperson, studying for qualifications while working and earning a wage, and will initially be based at the company's Bury HQ but could eventually work at sites across the country and in Europe.

"I am a person who likes to do physical activities rather than desk work. I don't like to be confined for a large amount of time," explained Joseph, who became interested in engineering when studying resistant materials.

Then last year he took part in an engineering contest at the Chadderton secondary with Hargreaves.

He said: "I met an apprentice from Hargreaves and I heard a lot of positive things.

"It seemed like a really good working environment and then I had the opportunity to apply for an apprenticeship this year. I am looking forward to getting on site and being able to make a difference."

Head teacher Mike McGhee said: "It is the practical learning that appeals most to Joseph but he has managed to maintain the right balance between his academic studies and the practical side of his studies.

"We are very proud of Joseph. It is great to see him moving on and we are looking forward to him coming back with Jeff and helping to deliver some of the programmes that we do to promote these opportunities."

Jeff Newman, a project manager with Hargreaves who works closely Newman College as part of its Engineering Young Talent Programme, said: "The real benefit to us is we are getting young people into the business who we can mould into the type of person Hargreaves wants and they very quickly offer a good return to the business.

"For the young people, it's a good working environment. I started as an apprentice in the 1980s and they very much follow the same model so it shows that the model works."