Bright sparkus Marcus and others gain job training with SSE and Energy & Utility Skills

Representatives from SSE and Energy & Utility Skills (EU Skills) have launched a new Certificate of Work Readiness training programme at Inverness College.

The award is designed to fast-track 20 young people from Inverness, Thurso and Wick who are considering a career in engineering.

The 10 week intensive course, which runs from Inverness College and North Highland College, entails students working alongside SSE engineers to learn more about the organisation. In return, if they are successful they will be given the opportunity of an apprenticeship or further training.

The programme includes an employer assessed real life work experience placement, resulting in a formal qualification, quality assured by the Energy & Efficiency Independent Assessment Service. It marks a considerable commitment from a large employer to ensure future employees not only have the right skills but also the right attitude before they are hired. Programmes such as this ensure young people are equipped with work-ready skills as well as qualifications.

Marcus Dicks (22) from Ardersier, currently lives in a homeless shelter in Inverness. He is one of the lucky 20 chosen.

He said “This is a massive opportunity for me; I have wanted to work with SSE for a long time. Their values, the size of the company and the challenges within the programme will be hugely beneficial to me.

“I have worked for other organisations but SSE offers a career not just a job. I am interested in a transmission apprenticeship in the future and I am really looking forward to starting the course this week.”

Aidan Brooks, Youth Entrant Programme Leader, EU Skills, commented:  “More than 208,000 new people will be needed in the energy and utilities sector in the next twelve years. We are working closely with employers to address this skills gap and The Certificate of Work Readiness programme is an excellent example of what’s possible.”