STUDENTS across the Braintree district are bucking the national trend and enjoying new opportunities.

While nationally the number of students taking up apprenticeships is falling, across the Braintree district there are more opportunities now than for many years.

A report revealed between May and June last year there were 113,000 new student apprenticeships nationwide.

This year the number fell to 43,600.

However here there are new opportunities in science, technology, engineering and maths at The Stem Innovation Centre, at The College, Braintree than before.

The £6million centre opened in June.

The £11million Stansted Airport Technical College is also launching on Monday, November 27.

The facility is the first of its kind at a major UK airport and will be used to train apprentices to learn skilled trades.