We love sharing our learners’ achievements both in and out of the classroom.

Some of our current pipefitting apprentices are having a run of success, each in their own sporting fields.

Among them, and fighting fit, is 19-year-old Louis. As a young boxer he is working his way up the development league.

Now the up-and-coming sportsman has brought home his first belt, winner of the Tyne Tees and Wear Association USL Championship U51 Male Development Belt.

Developing both physical and mental strength, he said: “Boxing has changed my life.”

He told us: “It was my mam that first suggested I give boxing a go.” Though he admits back then he did take a bit of convincing.

For him, it was a way of building his confidence and regularly working out at the gym, it wasn’t long before he started to get to grips with the basics.

His first fight came at 17, and while he says he didn’t feel any nerves, looking back he can see the progress he has made since then.

“I didn’t know how it felt to be in a ring, but now I do,” he said. “In the ring your adrenaline is through the roof, but training gets you used to that.”

While he explained that the nerves do kick in, the sport is also about mastering those nerves.

Today Louis is a member of Billingham Boxing Academy, training five or six days a week, with 12 fights under his belt.

While he hasn’t won them all, each one has offered its own lesson. Describing that first defeat after five wins in a row, as “the worst feeling”, he has since discovered with it comes steady progress.

Now he says: “I take it on the chin.”

As for his mum, ironically being the one to persuade him to give boxing a go, Louis said: “She hates it and won’t go to any of the fights.”

But he couldn’t be more grateful for being given a shove in that direction.

He said: “Boxing and training has really helped me, both physically and mentally.”

As for the next fight, he added: “I’m just taking it step by step.”