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Apprenticeships at Hinkley Point C

At Hinkley Point C, we have already created over 1,000 apprenticeships and continue to grow this number. The wide range of skills required to build the power station means there really is opportunity for everyone. EDF apprentices will also play a crucial role in operating and maintaining the power station throughout its 60 years of operation.

Apprenticeships are at the forefront of our workforce development and skills needs and we want to provide the best possible access and experience for all apprentices working and learning as part of the project. The majority of apprenticeships created will be through our primary contract partners - such as Bouygues, Laing O’Rourke or Kier Bam – who will specify the exact requirements and commitments for each apprentice.

Once on-site, apprentices will be part of a creative, vibrant and supportive environment providing the best possible foundations for any new career. Our apprentices will have face-to-face support at an on-site apprentice hub as well as digital access to relevant information, learning and care. Our culture is inclusive and collaborative, meaning our apprentices will work alongside and socialise with a variety of people across our workforce. Experiencing our unique environment will ensure any apprentice has the best possible springboard to a successful career.

Apply for an apprenticeship

If you are interested in pursuing an apprenticeship at Hinkley Point C, you can view our current opportunities via the link below. Make sure you also register to be kept up-to-date when new apprenticeship opportunities become available.

What you need to know

The minimum wage for an apprentice is £5.28 per hour, but many employers pay more than this. In fact, some Higher Apprenticeships can pay as much as £13.50 per hour. If an apprentice is aged 19 or over and completed the first year of their apprenticeship, they will be entitled to the National Minimum Wage for their age. Apprentices receive marked salary increases on completion of their training and the roles often offer great opportunities for career progression. Pay can also be dependent on the industry, location and type of apprenticeship.

There are many different apprenticeship levels available to undertake, from entry level all the way through to Degree Apprenticeships. There is an opportunity for anyone to access a career through an apprenticeship – no matter what your age, background or qualifications. Apprenticeships can normally be broken down into the following levels;

Intermediate Apprenticeships

Level 2; equivalent to five GCSEs at grade C or above

Advanced Apprenticeships

Level 3; equivalent to two A level passes

Higher Apprenticeships

  • Level 4: equivalent to an HNC
  • Level 5: equivalent to an HND or a Foundation Degree
  • Level 6: equivalent to an Undergraduate Degree
  • Level 7: equivalent to a Master’s Degree
  • Degree: Degree Apprenticeships offer a full degree, paid for by your employer

It’s impossible to go a day without using English and maths skills and this applies at Hinkley Point C too. Good English and maths skills will ensure you are able to be productive and importantly safe, in your work as an apprentice. Safety is at the forefront of everything we do and these skills are vitally important in many ways, for example, being able to confidently read and interpret health and safety signs.

Many employers look for at least GCSE grade C in each subject, so English and maths skills could be the difference between you getting the job or promotion you want or not. However, as an apprentice you should be given the chance to improve your English and maths skills, even if you have achieved at the level required for your apprenticeship. If you do not already have GCSEs at grades A*-C in English and mathematics, you should be offered the opportunity to achieve at this level as part of your programme.

You will normally work towards functional skills in maths, English and ICT, Level 1 for an Intermediate Apprenticeship and level 2 for an Advanced Apprenticeship.

If you are aged 16 or over and not in full-time education, then you are eligible to start an apprenticeship.

How does an apprenticeship work?

Apprenticeships are special – and that’s not just because you get paid to study! Unlike most other types of jobs, you’ll follow a set programme of work during your apprenticeship. It’ll run for a fixed period of time. And you won’t spend all your time in one place. In fact, your apprenticeship could take you all over the country… maybe even the world!

How to apply for an apprenticeship

You’ve found an apprenticeship you’re interested in– great! Now, what do you need to do? We’ll walk you through the application process step-by-step in this blog. So you know what to expect and feel confident from the start.

What happens in an assessment centre?

Being invited for an assessment shows that a business is seriously interested in taking you on as an apprentice or an employee. Find out in our visual guide what you can expect to happen and how to make the best impression.

What is an apprenticeship?

An apprenticeship is a career, not just a job. To get started in the world of work you usually need a combination of experience and qualifications. An apprenticeship gives you both, combining on-the-job training with study, leading to learning, earning and experiencing.

It usually takes between one and five years to complete an apprenticeship depending on which level you take. Apprenticeships are available across a wide range of industries at Hinkley Point C, with many high quality organisations offering them.

Whilst it is widely acknowledged that full-time education, such as college, sixth form or university is a proven route into employment, it does not always offer the valuable work experience that an apprenticeship can offer. Apprenticeships allow you to earn while you learn, and give you the opportunity to develop the skills that employers really want; including specific skills relating to your job, your company and your chosen sector.

Apprentice and Skills Hub

The Apprentice and Skills Hub at Hinkley Point Chas been created as a dedicated space for learning. It has been designed in a unique way that provides an environment that not only supports with information and guidance, but provides spaces for relaxation, study and private meetings.

The hub is designed to ensure that all learners amongst the workforce have continual access to support and information integral to their success, even if they are based off-site.

A day in the life of an EDF apprentice

What's it like to be part of one of Europe's biggest construction projects?

Join Caitlin, a Quantity Surveying Apprentice, for a day in the life of an apprentice at Hinkley Point C.

Apprentice Wellbeing Programme

One in ten young people experience a mental health issue at any one time, with suicide the leading cause of death for those aged 5-19. In an average group of 30 15-year-olds, seven are likely to have been bullied, six may be self-harming and one could have experienced the death of a parent.

To support our apprentices, we’ve launched the Apprentice Wellbeing Programme which provides advice on:

  • gambling
  • money management
  • physical health
  • emotional wellbeing
  • lifestyle interventions

 

We also work with local mental health charity In Charley’s Memory who provide drop-in sessions twice a month and one-to-one counselling when required.

Be apprenticeship ready

Here’s a guide to how an apprenticeship works. It’ll give you a clearer idea of how it might differ from other routes to employment, so you can decide if it’s the right path for you.

Contact us

The best way to contact us about Hinkley Point C is by completing our online enquiry form. You can also call us on 0333 009 7070 (24 hour free phone number).

For EDF's 24/7 media enquiry line call 01452 652233.

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