Electricity North West welcomes increased number of apprentices for 2020

Electricity North West, the electricity distribution network operator for the North West of England, has brought on 19 new apprentices for a three-year training course. 

The 19 new recruits officially joined the Electricity North West team last month, and while they will be primarily based at the company’s state-of-the-art Training Academy in Blackburn, the apprentices will also be deployed at one of the firm’s many depots across the North West. 

This year’s apprentices will learn to become design engineers, operational delivery engineers and project engineers as well as quantity surveyors.

In 2019, Electricity North West welcomed 17 apprentices, which means this year’s intake is up an additional two. This comes as demand for apprenticeships has risen as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, with more than a thousand people having applied for the apprenticeships on offer at Electricity North West this year.

Electricity North West has remained committed to hiring apprentices despite the coronavirus pandemic.

Peter Emery, chief executive at Electricity North West, said, “Despite the impacts of the pandemic, it’s important we continue to invest in our workforce of the future for the long term.

“Last year, we recruited 17 new apprentices, so we’ve actually increased our intake this year.

“Applications for our scheme are continuing to rise year-on-year and there’s no better time to join Electricity North West.

“The future is an exciting one, the pace of change in our industry is extraordinary and our workforce will help play a major role in helping the North West hit its net zero targets as we all use more low carbon electricity in the future.”

Last year, Electricity North West’s apprenticeship programme scooped the award for ‘Best Learning and Development Initiative’ at the People in Power Awards, organised by the National Skills Academy for Power.

Since the scheme launched back in 2007, more than 200 apprentices have been trained and developed.

Ellie Chandler, who recently became a qualified technician after completing an higher level apprenticeship course, added: “I really would recommend an Electricity North West apprenticeship to anybody.

“It’s by far one of the best things I’ve done, there’s plenty of support available and all of the courses are hands-on where you gain experience first-hand.

“Each day is a learning day and it was a great experience and one that I really enjoyed.”

Electricity North West’s search for its next batch of apprentices will start early 2021.