Aircraft painting firm takes first local trainees

Airbourne Colours, based at Teesside Airport, has taken on 24 local people as trainees

An aircraft-painting company has taken on 24 local trainees with little or no work experience in aviation.

The apprentice painters have received introductory training at Hartlepool College for six weeks before gaining hands-on experience with Airbourne Colours at Teesside Airport.

Paid employment begins on 1 November and the staff will receive a salary of £37,000 per year.

With a plan to bring in a similar number of new trainees every year, chief executive Steven Darbyshire said: "This is good money right on our doorstep".

Steven Darbyshire returned to Teesside after leaving to find work

Mr Darbyshire said a shortage of trained technicians in the industry led to meetings with Hartlepool College over the last few years to devise a specific training programme.

The Stockton-born entrepreneur said: "I left Teesside because I couldn't find a job here.

"I've come back here last year and am now creating all these jobs for the youth of Teesside.

"Obviously I've got a lot of pride in that."

Josephine Key is the only woman among the current trainee painters at Airbourne Colours

One of the trainees, Josephine Key from Eaglescliffe, said: "I'd done 10 years in TV production. It was very admin-based and I'd always wanted to do something a bit more hands-on and more practical.

"I always wanted to go into a trade and was looking at electrical work, building work and then I saw this pop up."

Ben Houchen, Tees Valley Mayor, said trainee painters will be earning £10,000 more than the average full-time salary for Teesside.

"We're really starting to ramp up better wages, which means more money in people's pockets so they can look after themselves and their families."