Flying the flag for the variety of jobs that exist in the industry, aviation, travel and tourism student, Emily, has already made the move into work.

Among those receiving level 3 results at Stockton Riverside College this week, she is getting to grips with the rules and regulations of working life as a security officer at Teesside International Airport.

“My ambition has always been to work in the industry,” said the 18-year-old from Stockton. “When this opportunity came up, earlier this year, I immediately applied.”

Just days after turning 18, she got the good news that her application had been successful.

Still completing the college programme saw Emily juggling the demands of her work and her remaining college studies.

But excited to get stuck in and be immersed in working life at the airport, she said it was well worth the extra effort.

Five months in post she described the job as, “a lot of responsibility”, her role involves maintaining those all-important aviation regulations.

Praised by her tutors for effort and perseverance, Emily officially achieved her level 3 diploma today.

Enjoying the demands of her new career, right at the centre of airport operations, she said: “The course really helped me to prepare for the reality of work.”