A 17-year-old Northumberland College welding student has been offered full-time employment after impressing Amble-based Northern Structures Ltd during a two-week work experience placement (www.northumberland.ac.uk).

Owen Jackson from Alnwick, who has been attending the college’s Ashington campus for two and a half days a week but will shortly complete his studies, said: “I’m so excited to have been offered a full-time position for when I finish my course.

“The experience I have had and the skills I have developed during my time at the college have been invaluable. In welding, there are so many opportunities to work abroad or at sea, so who knows where my welding skills and qualifications will take me in the future? It’s a very exciting career to be in.”

John Johnson, the college’s construction and engineering placement officer, said: “Northumberland College works closely with local employers to offer two-week placements for our students, to introduce them to the world of work.

This is a very successful scheme; the feedback we receive from employers and students has been terrific.”