Three years of hard work and homework have all been worth it for the fourteen Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN) apprentices who have received their graduation certificates in front of an audience packed with family, colleagues and industry stakeholders.
The SSEN apprentices are the first in the company to graduate after successful completion of SSE's Power Networks Craftsperson Apprenticeship. The new graduates successfully proved their competence and knowledge by achieving the requirements of the new Apprenticeship Standard.
This event was the crowning glory for the SSEN apprentices, who have all qualified in either Linesperson or Cable Jointing disciplines, and was designed to be as much a celebration of the young people's skills and endeavour, as well as recognition that they were the first SSE apprentices to complete the new Power Networks Craftsperson Apprenticeship Standard.
SSEN's parent company, SSE, is one of the key leaders in the development of the Apprenticeship Standard and has worked closely with Energy & Utility Skills and other utility employers to develop an excellent programme of learning. Training over the three years was split into three categories, Theoretical, Technical and Workplace-based competencies, with the latter a vital component to ensure that all of the classroom knowledge gained was ably followed up with a good grounding in the field.
Bev Keogh, SSEN's Director of Business Assurance said: "My team has worked closely with SSE's Learning and Development team to ensure successful delivery of the Apprenticeship Standard. Today is not only a great day for all the apprentices who are embarking on a new career with SSEN, it also marks the culmination of a lot of hard work behind the scenes to ensure that we have been able to offer highest level of training at all times."
"With 50% of this sector's workforce due to leave or retire by 2023, it is vital that we continue to attract new colleagues, and so I am delighted to welcome these 14 new graduates into the SSEN family and wish them all the best for a long and successful career."
Nick Ellins, Chief Executive of the Energy & Utility Skills Group, added: "These statistics and the findings from the Workforce Renewal and Skills Strategy demonstrate how the provision of rigorous high quality end-point assessment plays an important part in ensuring a skilled and resilient future workforce. Apprenticeships are highly valued by these major businesses, and offer those hard working individuals that graduate great career opportunities and the ability to earn while they learn."
SSEN's Suzanne Beavin, who graduated with distinction, was full of praise for the structure of the new course: "I've really enjoyed working with my colleagues and have learned so much over the past three years, not just on the technical "hands on" side of things, I also found the classroom sessions really interesting too. The apprenticeship has just been the start, I'm looking forward now to a long and interesting career within the industry."
SSEN is part of the SSE Group and since 2007, more than 1,100 apprentices and TSTs have been hired by SSE, a total training investment of £88m or £80,000 per recruit. SSE offers apprenticeship programmes lasting three to four years in nine different areas. SSE trainees help maintain over 200,000 km of SSE's power lines across its distribution and transmission networks and its power stations, wind farms and hydro projects as well as carrying out commercial or domestic electrical work. It puts trainees through foundation degrees as well as giving them work experience across the business. Graduates then join a two year rotational programme to develop their skills and experience. If you know of a friend or member of your family who may be interested in a career with SSEN, please refer them to www.ssen.co.uk/careers to learn more about our apprenticeship and training programmes.