I applied for SSE's apprenticeship programme in 2008 as I wanted to start a career in engineering soon after leaving school. I'm in the process of training to become a fully qualified Mechanical Technician at Medway Power Station in Kent. Having completed my first year at a local college, I'm now working at the power station on day release. Work here is extremely hands on and challenging but very rewarding.

Since joining SSE in 2008 my confidence has risen and so has my knowledge of the power industry. With college courses and working, I'm gaining the qualifications I need as well as the hands on experience. To work here, SSE expect hard working, enthusiastic team players who are willing to learn and work safely.

Having joined SSE in 2008, I'm a fairly recent addition to the programme. When I was thinking about where to start my career, someone mentioned SSE - I had a look at their website and found out a bit about the company. It looked like a great place to work, so I picked the area of the business that interested me most and applied.

I haven't been disappointed since joining. It's only been a while, but I've already seen and done so much. Being an apprentice is not as easy as some people think - learning everything you're expected to is a real challenge, but it's really interesting, too. It's not just training in the local college, but real, practical experience, too - just this past week, I've been spending time with cable jointers and linesmen, finding out about their jobs and how they work.

I first heard about SSE's apprenticeship programme through a family friend. I had a look at the website, applied and went through the assessment process, before starting in July 2008. I spend one week a month studying full time, learning the theory required to become qualified. I spend the rest of the time working alongside a qualified Gas Safe Engineer learning the practical skills I will put into practice in the future.

As an apprentice gas fitter I am based within the Home Services area of SSE; my work on a daily basis mainly involves installation, maintenance and fault finding for domestic customers' central heating systems. This job requires me to be home based and willing to be flexible in my work patterns in terms of hours and setting.

In general, with SSE you're expected to study hard so you can pass your exams, and there's a real emphasis on learning the safety rules and minimising risks. Once I'm finished, I should be a fully qualified Gas Safe Engineer, with City & Guilds Advanced certificate in Domestic Gas Installation and Maintenance.

 

I've been with the company since 2000, when I joined the apprenticeship. I had already been at college and completed my City & Guilds levels 1 and 2, and joined so I could achieve the qualifications I'd need to become an electrician. From there, I applied to become a Trainee Engineer, and after 18 months became a qualified Engineer. After another 18 months, I joined the company's Manager Development Programme.

I'm already a Contracts Manager looking after the Eastern Region of Railway Services - which means I'm responsible for all the operational aspects of the services, with offices in Aldershot and Eastleigh, and around 50 staff.

I've come a long way in nine years. In this company, you can turn your ambitions into achievements. I've only been able to progress like I have because of the emphasis SSE places on training and development - and while they're keen for every member of staff to build on their skills, the apprenticeship programme offers a really strong start.

I joined SSE in 2005 as an apprentice electrician after hearing about the apprenticeship programme at my school's careers evening. During my first two years, I spent around a quarter of the time at college studying for my qualifications. For the rest of the time, I was on the job working in places like hospitals, office blocks, houses and factories. The last couple of years of my apprenticeship were mainly spent on-site gaining the practical skills needed to be a good electrician and getting experience to build up my NVQ portfolio.

Having finished my apprenticeship now, I am a qualified electrician and continue working on commercial and industrial jobs. Depending on the size of the task, we either work in pairs or teams, sometimes I even have an apprentice of my own to observe what I am doing.

I am really pleased with the high level of training and support that I was offered throughout my apprenticeship. For anyone thinking of joining, I'd say it's really important that you can use your head as well as your hands as many tasks can be very demanding. I'd really recommend SSE, there's loads of variety in the work they do, so no two jobs are the same and this has given me a broad base of different skills.