Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN) is encouraging candidates looking for exciting careers in the engineering industry to apply for its 2017 Apprenticeship and its Trainee Engineer programmes before the application deadline on Sunday 19 March.
SSEN is looking for apprentices and trainee engineers to be based in its network areas in the north of Scotland and central Southern England.
Applicants to the Engineering Craft Apprenticeship can specialise in in power distribution, undertaking a four year programme to gain the knowledge and skills to safely build, repair and maintain the circuits that deliver electricity to homes and businesses across the network.
The three year Trainee Engineer Programme includes course-based learning while completing practical courses in jointing, metering and overhead lines.
Both learning programmes offer candidates an excellent opportunity to gain a career within an exciting industry where they can truly make a difference every day.
Trainees on SSEN's Apprenticeship Programme are provided with the opportunity to achieve a Modern Apprenticeship qualification and a City & Guilds Technical Certificate (or SVQ in Scotland). Candidates on the Trainee Engineer Programme will study towards a minimum HNC level qualification with an academic provider, fully funded by the company.
Bev Keogh, Director of Networks Business Assurance at SSEN said: "Our industry provides many interesting, challenging and rewarding opportunities but recent research shows that 20% of the workforce in the energy and utilities sector is due to retire by 2023 - leaving a significant skills gap that we must work hard to address. The industry is changing and we need to adapt in response to this, filling the gap with strong, capable people to be able to sustain our business going forward."
"You can kick start a rewarding career by applying to SSEN's Apprenticeship and Trainee Engineer programmes which allow people of all ages and skill levels the opportunity to develop by earning and learning at the same time. These types of programmes are vital to both the success of our company and our industry."
Oscar Baird, Trainee Engineer based in Elgin is now in his final year of his traineeship: "I chose a traineeship with SSEN when I came straight out of school and found the trainee programme. I was looking to go to University anyway so I thought to get paid while doing so was ideal for me."
"I'd definitely recommend an apprenticeship or traineeship with SSEN, purely because you learn technical skills and have good technical knowledge after obtaining your degree and then you get a job at the end which is the ideal end goal."
For more information on the Engineering Craft Apprenticeship and Trainee Engineer programme, please visit ssen.co.uk/careers.
SSEN is partnering with the Energy & Utilities Skills Partnership, to build and launch the first ever joint Workforce Renewal and Skills Strategy. As part of the partnership, SSEN has committed to a new 12-month pilot programme that seeks to encourage people into careers in the industry. For more information, visit news.ssen.co.uk/news/all-articles/2017/02/eu-skills/.