TTE trainees stood up for Middlesbrough on Sky News to counter a report that said the town is the worst place in England and Wales to grow up as a girl.
Second-year learners Bethan Lynas, Bailey Mercer, and Rachel Young were interviewed on the national news channel, along with Operations Manager John Cooke, to refute the report and highlight the benefits of living and working in Middlesbrough.
The report by charity, Plan International UK, used a variety of statistics to create a league table of the best and worst places to be a girl in England and Wales.
However, Sky News visited TTE’s training centre to discover the report did not paint a true picture of life for girls in the area. The three trainees discussed their passion for the town and their determination to carve out successful careers, including through training at TTE.
Bethan, who won a Learner of the Year award at the 2016 TTE Celebrating Success event, and Bailey are working towards a Level 3 vocational qualification in Instrumentation. Rachel is working towards an Elecrtrical Level 3 vocational qualification.
Steve Grant, Managing Director of TTE, said: “This report is not a true reflection of the opportunities open to girls in Middlesbrough. Organisations like TTE work exceptionally hard to engage with girls and help set them on sustainable career paths that can offer them fulfilling lives.
“Our trainees were excellent advocates for Teesside when they appeared on Sky News and showed world that young people in this region have a lot to offer employers.”