North east property and energy firm Banks Developments is helping to the next generation get their first taste of life in industry after taking on four undergraduates on year-long placements.

Each of the four placement students will be working with mentors from Banks throughout the year on a range of live projects across the company’s portfolio of renewable energy, mining and construction schemes, and will gain experience within a number of different aspects of the development process.

Two of the students, Charles Richardson and Lisa Horridge, are studying at Northumbria University, and are working towards degrees in Estate Management and Planning & Development Surveying respectively.

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The two remaining students are from Sheffield Hallam University - Kenneth Reader is taking a Business & Property Management honours degree, whilst Matthew Simpson is studying for the same qualification in Property Development.

Lisa, Kenneth and Matthew are now based at Banks' Tow Law office, whilst Charles is working from the company's base in Chesterfield.

Barney Pilgrim, managing director of Banks Project Services, says: "There's no substitute for experience, and our undergraduate placement programme offers our students the chance to gain practical experience of the development industries before they decide which career path they want to follow.

"These placements also enable us to take a look at the undergraduates as potential recruits when they graduate, and we already have a number of staff who have joined us through this channel and who have gone on to build successful careers with us.

"Our undergraduates are already working as active members of our project teams, and they will make an important contribution to a number of live schemes during their time with us."

(GK/JM)