A training scheme designed to help young people to get into the nuclear industry has won the company behind it royal recognition.

Energus, based in Lilyhall, Workington, has been selected to receive a Princess Royal Training Award for its programme nucleargraduates.

This is a two-year development programme for new engineering, science and commercial graduates.

Those who complete the scheme go on to find work across the nuclear estate, including at Sellafield and at Magnox sites like Chapelcross.

They are also encouraged to get chartered status within their particular field.

It was set up with the Nuclear Decommissioning Agency (NDA) in 2008 , has 12 sponsors and is run by team of six people. Since it started 271 have completed the scheme and a further 40 are scheduled to do so.

The awards have been administered by training oganisation City & Guilds with the aim of recognising organisations which have linked their skills development needs to business performance.

There were 40 winners from across the private and public sector, including Barrow shipyard owner BAE Systems and the North West Ambulance Service, which operates throughout Cumbria.

Kath Walker, Energus' business systems lead, was delighted that the business had succeeded.

She said: "It is amazing when you consider we are only a team of six."

The business will receive the award in a ceremony in St James Palace in October. In the same month, the firm will also send a member of staff to Buckingham Palace for a seminar on training scheme.

Chris Jones, Chief Executive of the City & Guilds Group said: ‘From household brands to leading charities, employers of all sizes across the UK are seeing real and tangible benefits of training and developing their people. The Princess Royal Training Awards provide both recognition and the opportunity to share best practice and its impact. I congratulate the 40 successful organisations who presented their evidence and achieved the standard required by the award in 2017."