A NORTH East entrepreneur has donated £250,000 to establish a scholarship to encourage pupils in the region to take up engineering.

Dr Alan Reece, the owner of Pearson Engineering in Walker and founder of charity The Reece Foundation, has designated the money to help pupils follow a career in engineering.

The Reece Scholarships are to be administered by Paul Ruane, vice-principal at St Cuthbert’s High School in Newcastle.

The pilot scheme, which will see 30 pupils from schools across Newcastle benefit each year for five years, was set up to help plug the gap in engineering students.

Mr Ruane said: “It is brilliant for the schools. I am confident we can make it work. It is a massive opportunity for 30 pupils every year and we will evaluate it after five years.”

The £250,000 is coming from the Wylam-based charity established by Dr Reece with the aim of supporting engineering teaching.

Mr Ruane said: “Because we are an academy and a Catholic school, we want it to be inclusive. We wanted to take it and open it to pupils from all backgrounds, genders and schools, and give them equal opportunities.”