NORTHERN POWERGRID SHOWS EDUCATION SECRETARY HOW APPRENTICESHIPS ARE POWERING NEW CAREERS

Northern Powergrid has shared with the Secretary of State for Education, Rt Hon Damian Hinds MP, how apprenticeships are helping power new careers in the energy industry.

The power network operator welcomed the Education Secretary into its business with a tour around its training facilities before meeting several Northern Powergrid apprentices at different stages in their apprenticeship programme.

Northern Powergrid, the company responsible for the power network that delivers electricity to 3.9 million homes and businesses across the North East, Yorkshire and northern Lincolnshire, demonstrated during the ministerial visit how apprenticeships are helping power its future workforce.  It also showed how it is creating new career opportunities, through apprenticeships, for people from a range of different backgrounds. 

In addition to its highly successful Power Network Craft Apprenticeships, for people looking to develop a career based around the craft skills needed to build, maintain and repair power networks, electrical power plant, overhead lines and cables, and its Power Network Engineer Apprenticeships, the electricity network operator is leading the way with two of the UK’s first energy sector cyber apprentices. This year it has also introduced new apprenticeships to create a new generation of Network Control Engineers and Design Engineers who will have the skills to manage the company’s power network and design future network investments and new electricity connections.

Northern Powergrid’s apprentice programme isn’t just targeted at school leavers. The current group of apprentices range from 16 to 45 years in age.  Some had previous careers in the police, dental, retail and travel industries before deciding to pursue a new career in the energy industry and be part of a sector where innovation in smart technologies is helping create low-carbon networks that can deliver more for customers.

Education Secretary Damian Hinds said: “It was great to meet the apprentices and staff at Northern Powergrid. They are an excellent example of how industry is working with Government to create more high quality apprenticeships so businesses can recruit the skilled workforce they need for a rapidly changing world.

“I was really impressed with the high standard of training and facilities, and to see how apprenticeships are helping people of all ages and backgrounds to gain new skills and get on in life. I wish them all the best for the future.”

Phil Jones, Northern Powergrid’s Chief Executive, said: “The apprenticeship programme is a huge force for good in our business and will remain an integral part of how we recruit and develop our workforce. We currently have more than 160 apprentices learning new skills and contributing to our business every day.  Over the last decade we’ve successfully trained more than 500 apprentices and 98 per cent of them are still part of our team. I think that shows that apprenticeships are right for our people as well our company. 

“Apprenticeships are helping create a new generation of highly-skilled people who have the opportunity to contribute not just to Northern Powergrid – but also the wider regional economy we serve.  We want to play our full part in increasing the skill levels in the workforce in our region.  That’s why we work with a range of partners, such as government, local colleges, the EU Skills Partnership and Academy Ambassadors, to help create educational opportunities that help people acquire more marketable skills.”

Northern Powergrid delivers apprenticeships through its three training centres in Castleford, Durham and Swillington.  It will open its doors again in spring 2019 for apprenticeship applications.