Torness apprentice comes top of the class

A Torness apprentice has been recognised for his performance at EDF’s annual apprenticeship graduation ceremony in Somerset.

Matthew French was named “Apprentice of the Year” out of 23 apprentices from across EDF’s UK fleet. He was recognised for achieving distinctions in his HNC and his Maintenance and Operations Engineering Technical Qualification, completing his Gold Duke of Edinburgh and  working to complete his apprenticeship early so he could support a busy outage on site.

The 21 year old from Berwick-upon-Tweed graduated alongside fellow Torness apprentice Kieran Edwardson (25) from Edinburgh.

The pair spent four years on the company’s Engineering Maintenance Apprenticeship Scheme and will both now take up technician roles at the site.

Matthew said: “I’m really honoured to have received this award. I’ve spent lots of time over the past four years with the other apprentices in my year from across the fleet so I know how stiff the competition was and how much talent there is in the group.

“I’ve learned so much during the apprenticeship and it has given me some really great life experiences. Now I’m looking forward to getting stuck in to my new role as a full-time technician.”

Matthew attended the ceremony with his mum, Gail, who was celebrating her birthday that day.

Gail French also works at the Torness and says Matthew’s achievement made for an extra special day: “Seeing Matthew graduate was already a fantastic birthday present, but being there to see him receive this recognition for all the hard work he has put in over the past four years was wonderful and a really emotional moment for me.”

The awards were presented by the Managing Director of EDF’s Generation business, Matt Sykes and the Managing Director of Hinkley Point C, Stuart Crooks in front of an audience of graduating apprentices and their families.