As artificial intelligence continues to reshape industries and headlines focus on the future of work, many young people are questioning how to secure meaningful careers in an increasingly competitive jobs market. At the same time, apprenticeships are gaining renewed attention as a practical route into skilled professions, with recent research showing that 90% of young people would consider an apprenticeship over a traditional university degree.

Against this backdrop, Stockton-based Eastgate Engineering has taken a significant step in its commitment to developing future talent, welcoming Leo Honeyman as the company’s first-ever Apprentice Quantity Surveyor.

For Leo, the opportunity represents more than just the start of a new role. It is a chance to gain hands-on experience, earn while he learns and build a long-term career within an industry that continues to face a well-documented skills shortage. For Eastgate Engineering, it reflects a wider belief that businesses must play a more active role in creating opportunities for young people and developing the workforce of tomorrow.

Recent findings from skills charity Enginuity revealed growing support for vocational career pathways, with both young people and parents increasingly recognising apprenticeships as a credible alternative to university. The report found that affordability, practical learning and clear routes into employment are driving interest in apprenticeships across the UK.

 Anthony Fiske, Commercial Director at Eastgate Engineering, said:

“Eastgate Engineering are thrilled to welcome Leo Honeyman as our very first Apprentice Quantity Surveyor, marking an exciting milestone for both Leo and our business. We believe apprenticeships are about far more than gaining a qualification; they are about giving the younger generation of the Tees Valley Region and across the UK the opportunities they deserve to build meaningful careers, develop valuable skills and realise their potential.

The skills shortage across engineering and construction is something we all have a responsibility to address, and that starts by investing in people. Sometimes, all a young person needs is a hand on their shoulder, someone willing to share their knowledge, and an opportunity to prove what they can do, just as someone once did for each and every one of us. It’s important that we remember where we all started and recognise the people who gave us that first opportunity, offered their guidance and helped us take those important first steps in our careers. Now it’s our responsibility to do the same for the next generation.

By supporting apprentices like Leo today, we can help bridge the skills gap, retain and develop home grown talent, and build the skilled workforce that the Tees Valley Region and the wider UK will depend upon tomorrow.

We’re incredibly proud to have Leo starting this journey with Eastgate Engineering, and we look forward to increasing our apprenticeship numbers further, creating more opportunities for the next generation and continuing to invest in the future of our industry.”

As digital technologies and AI continue to transform workplaces, the demand for skilled professionals who can combine technical knowledge with practical experience remains high. Across engineering and construction, employers are being challenged not only to fill skills gaps but also to create accessible entry points for young people looking to build successful careers.

By investing in apprenticeships, Eastgate Engineering hopes to play its part in ensuring local talent can access those opportunities without leaving the region, helping to strengthen both the Tees Valley economy and the future of the engineering and construction sectors.

For Leo, that future starts now, proving that while technology may be changing the world of work, people, opportunity and mentorship remain just as important as ever.

For further information visit https://eastgateengineering.com/