STANDARDS of employees for small engineering businesses in Ryedale are rapidly rising, thanks to a Malton training organisation.

Derwent Training Association (DTA) offers out-of-school vocational programmes for 14 to 16-year-olds.

The effect on engineering excellence in the area has been so stark that the organisation is pitching for the title of Best Business And Education Link in The Press Business Awards 2006.

Experts at DTA have worked closely with schools and employers in the area to suggest ways to enrich the curriculum through visits out-of-school and the use of advanced technology equipment.

For example, an out-of-school engineering vocational course agreed with Lady Lumley's School, Pickering, has been such a success that the DTA has successfully bid for other projects, including a £250,000 contract with an awareness project for 14 to 19-year-olds called In Touch With Tomorrow, plus a £116,000 contract awarded to develop e-learning.

David Sanderson, chief executive of DTA said the success at Lady Lumley's School inspired three other secondary schools to join the engineering vocational route from September.

He said: "The pupils who gained in numeracy, literary, verbal and spacial assessment will be starting GCSE in Engineering Double Award and the Young Apprenticeship scheme one day a week for two years at Derwent Training Association.

"This is unique because four pupils from each of the secondary schools in Malton, Norton, Ryedale and Pickering will for the purpose of this course be united with one teacher assigned from Lady Lumley's School to work with DTA to run the course.

"All the latest resources will be made available."