ScottishPower has received a record number of applications for its most recent recruitment campaign, focused on bringing new talent in to the organisation. The company has been looking for around 80 apprentices across three different programmes to help deliver its £3.6 billion investment drive in the UK between 2012-14. Over 1,000 applications have been received for the apprenticeship positions, which are designed to support young engineers and to help them to realise their potential.
Two of the three programmes are now fully subscribed, but the company is still seeking to recruit up to 42 young people on to its award winning Engineering Foundation Programme. They should be aged 16-19 with an interest in engineering. The programme combines study at a local college with industry specific training at a ScottishPower training centre, and positions are available in Edinburgh, Glasgow and Chester.
The opportunities are part of ScottishPower’s long-term plans to create 1500 jobs in the next decade. As four out of five energy industry employees are set to retire over the next 15 years*, ScottishPower is committed to a major recruitment drive to encourage a new generation of workers in to the industry as well as supporting its contractors and companies in the wider supply chain to do likewise.
Sheila Duncan, Director of Human Resources at ScottishPower, said: “As a company we are looking to deliver some of the biggest upgrades to the electricity network in half a century, at the same time as delivering substantial investments to generate low carbon electricity. We need a skilled and capable workforce across the board in order to deliver these investments, and as part of this we need to have a focus on younger generations who will be able to manage and deliver projects over the long term.
“We are hugely encouraged by the appetite we have seen for these positions, as engineering is a skilled profession that offers a wide range of career opportunities. We have been working closely with schools, colleges and universities across the UK to promote engineering as a desirable career choice, and it is great to see the interest in apprenticeship engineering positions continue to increase.”
The two fully subscribed apprenticeship programmes are:
Craft Apprenticeship
The Craft Apprenticeship provides individuals with a fantastic way to realise their potential and get their careers off to the best possible start. Combining learning with earning, apprentices will not only study for a recognised qualification but develop new skills along with gaining invaluable knowledge and experience.
Power Engineering Higher Level Apprenticeship
This Apprenticeship will include an industry led level 4 qualification and will help develop many skills, combing a blend of academic and technical training with work based learning and assessment. On completion of the programme they will be offered an Engineer’s role at one of our locations in England, Scotland or Wales.
More information on the Engineering Foundation programme, and other employment opportunities, are available at ScottishPower’s vacancy pages: http://www.scottishpower.jobs/
*Figures from the National Skills Academy for Power (NSAP)
ScottishPower Press Office:
Simon McMillan / Paul Ferguson 0141 614 4660