AN apprenticeship scheme on Teesside has placed almost 300 people with employers in the last two years - double its target.

The news comes as National Apprenticeship Week got under way across the UK today.

The Tees Valley Apprenticeship Scheme was launched in 2010.

The £1.8m programme was specifically aimed at helping more than 150 apprentices who were risk of redundancy - or unable to complete their course - due to the economic downturn and the announcement of the mothballing of the Corus plant at Redcar.

It also aimed to leave a lasting legacy of skilled workers in the region.

Due to come to an end on March 31, it has now helped 299 people.

On Friday, employers, apprentices and MPs will gather at Hurworth’s Rockliffe Hall for the presentation of awards to top-achieving apprentices who have benefited from the scheme and to employers large and small who have signed up to provide apprenticeships.

Set an initial challenge to protect 150 “at risk” apprenticeships and find 60 businesses willing to see these apprenticeships through to completion, TVAP has so far signed up 132 employers.

Many are expected to be taken on as permanent employees of their sponsoring companies once their training is complete.