During National Apprenticeship Week, the team at Triton Knoll is celebrating the success of the RWE apprenticeship scheme. Four, young apprentices have already completed its three year training programme and gained employment with RWE working on the Triton Knoll offshore wind farm.
RWE launched its Wind Turbine Engineer apprenticeship scheme in 2016 to meet the growing demand for technicians for its expanding offshore wind portfolio and to help young locals start a career in one of the fastest growing sectors in the UK.
Four new apprentices from the Grimsby area, recruited last year, are now following in the footsteps of the first group of apprentices-turned-technicians.
Triton Knoll O&M manager, Kerry Monument said, “I help manage the scheme for RWE and I feel really proud to be able to give a young person the opportunity of a career in an expanding industry. It’s a key thing that a company like RWE should be doing.”
The new apprentices have just completed their first year of studies and report an overwhelmingly positive experience so far.
Amelia Coulam had her sights set on an engineering career from an early age and had studied engineering before applying for the Triton Knoll apprenticeship. “It’s my dream job,” she said: “I’ve always wanted to work in renewables. The first year has been challenging with the Covid pandemic but we have continued to study. The best part so far was my first practical assignment. I was given a technical drawing, tools, and materials, and from that I built a fully functional wind turbine component.”
Mollie Mills switched careers from horse care management to join the scheme. She said, “I love the idea of working offshore and that it’s a practical job. I’m really looking forward to getting out to the turbines, getting some hands-on experience.”
Both Amelia and Mollie hope to start work as wind turbine technicians at Triton Knoll once they graduate from the apprenticeship scheme in 2023.
Having started his career as an apprentice electrician himself, O&M manager Kerry Monument is a keen advocate for the scheme. Asked what advice he would give to young hopefuls in National Apprenticeship Week he said, “Go for it – you’ve got absolutely nothing to lose. It’s a rapidly growing sector and will provide you with a career for the rest of your working life."
RWE will be recruiting 4 new apprentices from the north east England region in 2021. To register your interest in the 2021 scheme, please visit https://www.tritonknoll.co.uk/apprenticeships/.
To find out further information on the wider RWE apprenticeship scheme, please click here.
