They’re hired! Start of term for trainees joining the SSE apprentice scheme

More than 160 apprentices are plugging into a new career at SSE, where as talented engineers and electricians of the future, they will be learning how to keep the UK’s lights on and homes warm.

The 169 bright sparks were among thousands who originally applied, in a bid to land places on SSE’s prestigious training scheme.

The new recruits are part of a 500-strong team of youngsters currently going through various stages of their training programmes, at an average investment of £80,000 per trainee. This year 20% more trainees have been hired than last year.

Over the next few years they will learn the tools of their trade whilst attending college to study the theory of their new profession.

The sky is literally the limit for these SSE apprentices who will be training to help maintain the 205,000 km of overhead - and underground - power lines across SSE’s distribution and transmission networks, plant and equipment at depots, power stations, wind farms or hydro projects, or carry out commercial or domestic electrical work.

They will be training to become maintenance engineers, electrical fitters, electrical installers or engineers, working from depots in Scotland, central southern England, the West Country, Yorkshire and East Anglia. Sites will range from a power distribution depot on Shetland, the Greater Gabbard Offshore Wind Farm in the North Sea and an electrical contracting site in Plymouth.

The new trainees have just spent their first induction week meeting other starters and getting an overview of the different jobs they will be doing in the future.

Ryan Sadler, Head of Learning and Development at SSE, said: “SSE employs 20,000 people and recruiting talented and committed people is essential for us. Our trainee schemes are second-to-none and, as always, we had an extremely strong response.

“By investing around £80,000 per recruit, SSE is also investing in the people who will provide, in the future, a quality service to our customers and communities we serve.”

SSE apprentices will benefit from on-the-job work combined with theoretical study at specialist centres of education around England and Scotland.

Thousands of apprentices have successfully graduated through SSE’s programme and now play a vital role in all aspects of the company’s day-to-day operations. Since 2007, more than 800 apprentices have been hired by SSE.

PICTURED:

The class of 2014 take a break from training during their first week with SSE.