THE first apprentice to take up a position at a Tynedale-based engineering company has now taken on a permanent job.

Osbit’s first apprentice, Tom Hall, has completed his training and accepted a permanent position at the Riding Mill-based offshore technology and engineering company.

Tom (20) from Greenside in Gateshead, has passed his Level 3 NVQ Extended Diploma in engineering drawing, following over two and a half years of training at Osbit, also receiving support from training organisation TDR Training.

Now fully qualified, Tom has taken up a full-time position and is currently producing technical designs for new offshore engineering equipment.

He said: “My colleagues have supported me since my first day and Osbit has really helped me during my apprenticeship.

“I felt comfortable and part of the team very quickly at Osbit, even though I was still learning on the job.

“This is because the company’s flat structure means everyone’s opinion is valued, regardless of their job role or seniority.”

As part of his apprenticeship, Tom was involved in a variety of live projects at Osbit as he gained practical experience.

During this time, Tom contributed to designing Osbit’s first subsea trenching vehicle and oversaw his own project, designing and building a fatigue test rig for offshore cables.

In his first year at Osbit, Tom also attended Tyne Coast College, to achieve his NVQ Level 3 Diploma in Engineering & Manufacturing. He is now working towards an HNC in Mechanical Engineering.

Brendon Hayward, managing director of Osbit Ltd, said: “Tom integrated into the business very quickly and is a valued member of our team. We are delighted to be able to reward his efforts by offering him a permanent job.”