YOUNG people who joined Cumbria County Council as highways apprentices have moved on to full time jobs with the authority.

The apprentices have all been recognised for their hard work and offered permanent posts with Highways Teams, who maintain the county’s road network.

The county council’s apprenticeship scheme underlines the authority’s commitment to investing in training for young people and Cumbria is reaping the benefits of effectively ‘growing its own’ talent.

Councillor Keith Little, Cumbria County Council’s Cabinet member for Highways and Transport, said: “I’d like to congratulate our apprentices on securing permanent roles with our highways teams.

We’ve got some fantastic young people in Cumbria and it’s crucial to our economy that we grow our own talent from within.

“Apprenticeships provide the chance for young people to earn and learn and develop a range of skills.”

One of the former apprentices, Jack Harrison, started his apprenticeship in September 2018 and has worked with the Traffic Team, the Local Network Team and the Carlisle Northern Development Route Engineer. Jack has now secured a full-time role working in the Carlisle Network Team as a Technician.

Scott Watson began his apprenticeship at the same time, working with the Local Network Team, the Carlisle Northern Development Route Engineer and the Traffic Signals Team. Scott is now working as an Assistant Technician in the Carlisle Network Team.

Rainy Canavan started her apprenticeship in September 2019 and worked alongside the Section 38 Engineer, working with developers, for three months before undertaking a similar spell in the Traffic Team and then moving to Network Management. Rainy is now working in the Allerdale Network Team as an Assistant Technician.

Callum Banks has also passed his apprenticeship which he started in May 2019, mainly working within Network Management. He by assisting Highways Officers with utility maps and quantities, then using the Highways Information Management System and more recently undertaking scheme design and supervision work. Cumbria County Council has said: "Callum will be a real asset to the Allerdale Network Team as their new Technician."