New apprentices begin their journey to becoming EDF Renewables Wind Turbine Technicians

An enthusiastic group of eight (8) new apprentices are starting three (3) year apprenticeships with EDF Renewables this week. The youngsters are from all over the UK and will start their new roles by spending a year and a half at Tyne Metropolitan College in North Shields before learning the practical elements of the job at a number of the company’s sites across the UK.

The apprentices are; Lucy Cooper who will be based at the Fenlands sites, Craig Johnston and Ross McDonald who will be based at the Dorenell site, Torin Harvey-Waugh who will be based at our Fallago Rig site, Jamie Jones who will be based at the Aberystwyth service centre, Benjamin Ferguson who will be based at the Cumbria service centre and our Beck Burn site, Harris Razzaq who will be based at the Durham Service Centre and Sam Cockroft who will be based at the Teesside site.

The first task for the apprentices once they have settled into college will be a ten day training course in North Tyneside where they will be put through their paces to ensure they can work on our sites safely. These are wind industry standard courses which all EDF technicians attend and will cover working at height, manual handling, and first aid and fire awareness amongst other topics.

Nineteen (19) year old Lucy Cooper said “I am really excited to get started with my apprenticeship and got my first taste for renewables at school when I did a project into how much it can help us with climate change. I also thought really carefully about having a long term career, especially because of the COVID-19 pandemic and that’s why I applied for this role. I guess it could be seen as an unusual career move for a woman but I’ve never been one for following convention and I am looking forward to the beginning of a new adventure.”

Twenty Five (25) year old Sam Cockroft said, “I am most looking forward to the theory part of the apprenticeship as I believe it will really help my understanding of what is an exciting industry and company to work for. I am really pleased I will be offshore as it will be challenging and rewarding being out on what can sometimes be choppy waters! It was during a couple of years in Australia that I learned more about plastic pollution at sea and it got me focused on how we can all do a bit more to reduce carbon emissions so I’m happy I can now be directly involved in being a part of that.”

Director of Asset Operations Piero Maggio said, “It is great to welcome this new team of apprentices to the company and it is a reflection of the growth of our business. We have 36 operational onshore and offshore wind farm sites and a battery storage unit but we are developing much more including ground mounted solar technology which is a new area for us. This group of enthusiastic apprentices are a symbol of how we at EDF can contribute to the green recovery which is needed.”

EDF Renewables Chief People Officer San Johal said, “Apprenticeships are a great route into professions and growth sectors like ours. During the scheme, the Apprentices will get on the job training and achieve a qualification to carry out an exciting role with us and I’ve no doubt that they will have really exciting careers within EDF Renewables. The whole company is right behind them.”

Mo Dixon, Principal of Tyne Metropolitan College and South Tyneside College, said: “This exciting partnership brings together two organisations which have the skills and commitment to support these apprentices to gain the high-quality qualifications and expertise they need to advance their careers.

“Green energy is such a fast-accelerating sector, and so broad in scope, that there are vast opportunities for people of all ages and from all backgrounds to step onto the professional ladder in this field.

“Tyne Metropolitan College has the instructional expertise to support, in every way, this first group of apprentices to develop and gain the know-how and knowledge to become highly-regarded employees with EDF Renewables.

“This is our first venture with EDF Renewables and we are very much looking forward to working closely with its team to support these apprentices in their current and future career ambitions.”

About EDF Renewables
EDF Renewables UK (www.edf-re.uk) is part of one of the world’s largest electricity companies and our investment and innovation in the UK and Ireland is bringing down costs for consumers and bringing significant benefits for communities. With our operating portfolio of 36 wind farms and one of the UK’s largest battery storage unit (together totalling almost 1GW) we are providing some of the much needed new affordable, low carbon electricity to the UK and Ireland across four technologies. We have an expanding renewables portfolio with almost 4GW of projects in planning and development and 600 MW currently under construction. We also have offices in Edinburgh, Rainton Bridge (near Durham), London and Dublin.

About Tyne Metropolitan College
Based in North Shields, North Tyneside, Tyne Metropolitan College delivers a diverse vocationally-driven curriculum which allows it to work closely with employers across the North East. Since 2017 it has been part of Tyne Coast College, which was formed by the merger of Tyne Metropolitan College and South Tyneside College, in South Shields. Rated ‘Good’ by education inspectorate Ofsted, it offers a wide range of courses, including apprenticeships, for school-leavers and adults, and has strong links to North East universities. It is also home to the new £2.6m TMC construction skills’ centre and NESA, the North East Sports Academy, one of the region’s finest facilities for sports-based qualifications.