The first group of engineering apprentices in BOC`s formal apprenticeship scheme have all successfully finished their courses and have been awarded NVQ level three qualifications. The 12 students, who joined the BOC programme three years ago, completed a combination of on-site work and learning on the job whilst continuing with their college studies. Steve Gledhill, BOC`s Head of Tonnage, presented the graduates their certificates and boasted, [We are particularly pleased that 11 of these apprentices have secured positions as Technical Trainees at BOC – a two-year transition role will enable them to develop further before they become a full Technician. By instilling BOC`s strong safety culture early on in a student`s development this can make a real difference in their long term career." The company, UK and Ireland`s largest supplier of industrial gases and Member of The Linde Group, took on six apprentices in 2015, bringing the current total in the scheme to 24. Yesterday, Dearman announced it had launched a new apprenticeship scheme by recruiting a student to join its engineering team four days a week.