Five new apprentices set to start at EDF Energy’s Hunterston B power station

Hunterston B power station’s newest intake of EDF Energy apprentices have enjoyed an open evening with their families to find out more about the four-year scheme they will start in September.

The future apprentices and their parents heard about the world-class facilities and engineering training at Royal Navy Base HMS Sultan near Portsmouth, where they will be based for the first two years before returning to Hunterston B to complete their training on site.

This year five apprentices have been recruited for Hunterston B; Courtney McMillan from Stevenston (20), David Jackson from Saltcoats (17), Cameron Stewart from Ardrossan (17), Jack Kerr from West Kilbride (17) and Christie Fraser from Millport. (20)

Courtney MacMillan said: "This was my second time applying for the scheme with EDF Energy and after getting through to the interview stage last year, I was even more determined this year! I am really looking forward to experiencing living away from home and the independence that brings. I am also excited about the trips abroad to places like Budapest and Lyon where I’ve never been before.”

Colin Weir, Hunterston B station director said: "I always look forward to the welcome event for the apprentices. It is such an important part of their introduction to the award winning apprenticeship programme for their whole family – we get to meet their proud mums, dads, and grandparents who want to hear more about the journey the apprentices are about to embark on."

As well as getting paid throughout the training, at HMS Sultan the accommodation, food and a number of trips home are paid for by EDF Energy. The company is investing in training up young people to ensure there are enough highly skilled engineers for the future needs of the business.

Alongside the rigorous engineering training and qualifications, the apprentices will enjoy world-class sports and leisure facilities. The programme also includes trips abroad to European nuclear power stations and a huge variety of activities available to them, including skydiving or learning foreign languages.

Craig McGhie apprentice coordinator said: "The five latest recruits for the apprenticeship programme at Hunterston B really cut the mustard during their interviews and aptitude tests. There was fierce competition as always to get on to the training programme and of the 221 applicants 176 went through aptitude tests and 21 went forward for interview. The 5 are joining 28 other apprentices at Hunterston B to start what we hope will be a long and fruitful career at the power station."

The apprentices and their families will go down to visit HMS Sultan over the summer. Once there, they will get a tour of the base and will see where they will be living and training and get the opportunity to meet up with over 50 other EDF Energy apprentices from sites around the UK.

For more information contact:

Lindsey Ingram
Media Officer - Scotland
01355 846283
07813 230379
Lindsey.Ingram@edf-energy.com
 

Notes to editors

Pictured left to right are the new apprentices:
 

Courtney McMillan, David Jackson, Cameron Stewart, Jack Kerr and Christie Fraser.

 

EDF Energy in Scotland

In Scotland EDF Energy operates Hunterston B in North Ayrshire and Torness in East Lothian which employ over 1,000 staff and around 500 contracting partners across the two power stations. EDF Energy employs a further 200 office based staff in East Kilbride.  As well as generating enough power to serve some 4 million homes the company also provides gas and electricity to over 80,000 Scottish customers with around half of those opting for one of the company’s Blue+ products which are backed by low-carbon generation. We operate two windfarms in the Scottish Borders and make sure we buy enough electricity generated from a low-carbon nuclear source to match every unit of electricity we estimate our Blue customers use. EDF Energy is proud to power up some of the largest organisations in the UK, including supplying almost all public sector bodies in Scotland with after being awarded Scotland’s largest electricity supply contract by annual volume from April 2013. Following a landmark agreement with Network Rail the company also provides nuclear-backed Blue energy to power up the UKs electric rail network, covering most of the south east of England and the main lines from London to Edinburgh and Glasgow, as well as the Merseyrail network around Liverpool and the Glasgow suburban network.