Celebrations have taken place at Gen2 as a group of students have graduated.

Gen2 recently held its sixth Higher Education Ceremony at Energus in Workington, where 50 students were graduating.

The ceremony was a joint celebration in partnership with Sellafield Ltd, which marked the achievements of the Gen2 Higher Education learners.

All students were presented with certificates and special awards, after completing their studies part-time, while in full-time employment with a number of companies including Sellafield Ltd, James Fisher Nuclear, Morgan Sindall, James Walker, Shepley and Nestle.

Mike Smith OBE, Gen2 chief executive, said: "This event is unique as normally ceremonies such as these are reserved for universities and colleges, not work-based training providers.

"It is also unique because of the nature of the programmes that we run with our partners and employers."

He added that the students are working full time, while undertaking an academic degree.

"This is the real strength of our degree programmes as our students gain real first-hand on-the-job training and experience whilst getting a formal qualification," said Mr Smith.

"This means that they are often judged to be more work-ready, savvier and definitely more capable of immediately contributing to their employer's bottom line, when compared to their peers straight out of university."

Master of ceremonies was Gen2's director of nuclear education and skills, John Robertson, who introduced four special awards, which were presented by Tom Samson, chief executive of NuGen.

Michael Green was awarded foundation degree student of the year; Ian Binns got honours degree students of the year; endeavour award went to Jack Bowman and outstanding academic achievement award was presented to Michael Tyson.

Gen2's higher education manager, Kevin Rumney, said "The higher education department is very proud that we can offer students the chance to study engineering degrees without the need for them to leave the county."