As an 18-year-old having just finished my A-levels, the scholarship created a perfect balance between learning theory and practical experience.

Most university places don't provide an opportunity to enter a high-profile workplace on such a regular basis and students usually find themselves learning theory but not work-related practice.

I found the journalism course at Lincoln, in conjunction with the newspaper experience, avoided this dilemma.

At university we could be learning about law, politics, culture, sociology or practical elements of the course such as news reporting or feature writing one day, the next day we could be putting it into practice at the Mail.

The requirement scholars need to have lived in the East Riding for at least 10-years, is perhaps one of the reasons for the scheme's success.

My grandfather on my mother's side of the family was a fisherman in Hull, like generations before him.

My father had a business in the East Riding, going back 100 years, and I've lived in Beverley all my life.

The Mail has always been a part of the family's reading diet and I even delivered its sister publications, the Advertiser and Journal, when I was a teenager.

Like the other scholars, I know the area very well and use this knowledge wherever possible.

At first, working in a busy newsroom environment with looming deadlines and having to turn your hand to writing anything was very daunting.

However, together with the demanding nature of the university course, I was determined to make it a success.

The first-class degree result and the full-time appointment to the Mail's reporting staff have been excellent. Like any student I will miss the university course, my time in Lincoln and the friends I have made. But the scheme has provided me with a great opportunity at the Mail and I hope to continue enjoying my work here.

Read Christopher's story here.

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Do you have a story about the training regional press journalists? Ring 0116 227 3122/3121, or e-mail pastill@nep.co.uk