Blog: Our Training Schools – empowering the teams who power our communities

Electricity powers almost every part of modern life. From the moment we boil the kettle in the morning to the critical infrastructure that powers our communities’ schools and hospitals, it plays a role in almost everything we do.

As Head of Delivery for SSEN's Training Centres, my job is straightforward but hugely important - helping ensure that everyone who works on or around our networks has the skills, knowledge and confidence to do so safely. And our training schools in Perth, Thatcham and the New Forest play a vital role in developing that capability.

Every day, we support colleagues at every stage of their career - from apprentices and new starters beginning their journey with SSEN through to experienced craftspeople and engineers developing the specialist skills required to work on our electricity network.

We’re delivering thousands of courses every year across our three sites. Some focus on core technical and safety skills, while others support highly specialised activities such as High Voltage operations, cable jointing, working at height, network authorisations and specialist plant operation. Our goal remains the same no matter the course - building competence, developing confidence and making sure our people can carry out their roles safely and effectively.

One of the things I enjoy most about the role is seeing people grow. Whether someone is taking their first steps into the industry, progressing towards an advanced authorisation, or developing expertise in a new area, it's so rewarding to see the confidence that comes from learning and achievement.

I'm really fortunate to work alongside an outstanding team of trainers, many of whom have spent their careers working across the electricity industry, bringing a huge amount of practical experience into the classroom and training environment. Their passion for developing others is what makes our training schools such a special place to be.

At the heart of everything we do is a commitment to safety, competence and helping people build meaningful careers. If we can help someone leave our training centres a little more knowledgeable, a little more confident and better equipped for the challenges ahead, then we've done our job well.

The future of our networks depends on the skills of our people. I'm incredibly proud of the role our training teams play in developing that capability every day.