Three of Scotland’s newest electrical power engineering apprentices have started their training by meeting Andrea Leadsom, MP, the junior UK Energy minister.
The teenage trio – Craig Martin, an 18-year-old first year electrical apprentice from Falkirk; Morna Grant, a 17-year-old first year plumbing apprentice from Stirling, and Megan Dougan, an 18-year-old from Pollok, Glasgow who is studying towards a Foundation Degree in Electrical Power Engineering – – met the Minister in Glasgow.
SSE trainees help maintain 205,000 km of power lines across its distribution and transmission networks and power stations, wind farms and hydro projects as well as carrying out commercial or domestic electrical work.
Leadsom, Minister of State at the Department for Energy and Climate Change, said: “It’s great to meet some of SSE’s new intake of apprentices.
“Apprenticeships give young people a secure future, valuable experience, a regular pay packet and a recognised qualification. Not only does this give them a great opportunity but it also helps to drive our economy forward as we compete on the world’s stage.”
Gary Hamilton, SSE Technical Training Manager, said: “It’s certainly a special start to an apprentice career getting an audience with the Energy Minister. Our new recruits have a bright future in a burgeoning industry.
“And with 95% of our recruits staying with us after they’ve completed their training, this is a great place to learn a trade. We’ve already opened our recruitment process for next year’s intake and look forward to welcoming even more trainees to the company.”
SSE has hired more than 800 apprentices over the past eight years, investing £80,000 for every new recruit, totalling more than £60 million.
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