Scotland's First Minister Alex Salmond has joined with the wind energy sector to formally mark the launch of the UK's first Modern Apprenticeship for the renewables industry.
Speaking in Glasgow at RenewableUK 2010, the wind and marine energy trade body's 32nd Annual Conference & Exhibition, the First Minister awarded the collaborative efforts of the six partners involved in delivering the Wind Turbine Technician Modern Apprenticeship.
Siemens, REpower and Weir Group were each recognised for pioneering the recruitment of apprentices for the training route. The qualification holds the quality hallmark of City & Guilds and meets the standards of the National Skills Academy for Power.
The fifteen candidates, who have become the first young people to start the full-time scheme at Fife's Carnegie College also attended the launch and met with the First Minister. The three-year engineering qualification is split evenly between on-the-job training with the employers and college-based learning.
The First Minister said: "The Wind Turbine Technician Modern Apprenticeship is an exciting first for Scotland and the UK - and I'm pleased we're supporting it through Skills Development Scotland.
“The Scottish Government delivered more than 20,000 Modern Apprenticeships last year and we expect another 20,000 new starts this year. This new scheme highlights the flexibility and responsiveness of our Modern Apprenticeship programme, by engaging a key emerging sector where we already have comparative advantages.
“Construction and related sectors are now incorporating training for low carbon technologies and we recently launched a low carbon fund designed to re-skill and up-skill employees. I congratulate those embarking on this pioneering apprenticeship scheme at Carnegie College and thank the employers and partners who helped deliver it.
“These apprentices will play a key role in forging a new green economy in Scotland."
RenewableUK Chief Executive, Maria McCaffery MBE, said: "This is a truly significant step for the industry and I would like to congratulate the tenacious efforts of all those involved.
“Over the next decade the UK expects to see the contribution to electricity from wind to increase to around 30% from the 5% it stands at today. With a twelve-fold increase in the number of employees needed to fuel this growth, training initiatives such as the apprenticeship are absolutely crucial.
“The industry and its partners in education and skills should be extremely proud of what has been achieved here and we look forward to seeing more colleges and employers across the country taking up the scheme."
Christoph Ehlers, Managing Director, Siemens Renewables Division, UK added: “As the leading supplier of offshore and onshore wind turbines, grid connections and service and maintenance in the UK, our support of the apprenticeship scheme is critical, not only to our business, but to the industry as a whole.
“We already provide a great deal of training via our dedicated wind power training centre in Newcastle, but the new scheme complements this perfectly. We want to build up a sustainable way of offering young people careers in the Wind Industry. We wish all current and future apprentices all the best in their careers."
Rick Eggleston, Managing Director, REpower UK said: "We're proud to be supporting the UK's first apprentice scheme for wind turbine technicians. REpower has always recognised that a shortage of relevant skills is a major challenge facing the renewables industry, and we're thrilled to be doing our bit to bring in new talent. Courses such as this one provided by Carnegie College are paramount in ensuring the continued growth and long-term success of the wind industry."
David Arnold, Business Development Director, Renewables for Weir Power and Industrial said: "Weir Power and Industrial are delighted to be supporting this very important initiative. Consistently a shortfall in the availability of trained and competent wind turbine technicians is highlighted as an industry concern.
“This programme developed by the industry to help alleviate this issue lends credibility to the maturity of the wind industry. Weir Power and Industrial look forward to working with partners Siemens, REpower and Carnegie College to ensure the aims of the course are delivered and a new generation of technicians are introduced professionally to this industry that is very important for both Scotland and the rest of the UK."
And Mike Phillips, Business Development Manager at City & Guilds said: "City & Guilds are proud to be the first awarding body to offer the new Wind Turbine Service Technician Apprenticeship, the first of its kind for the renewable energy sector. Working collaboratively with RenewableUK and its other partners, we are helping the UK meet its targets for the generation of renewable energy.
"This industry is one area that we believe will see a lot of growth in the coming years and City & Guilds are glad to be leading the way in providing the skills for this development. The Apprenticeship is a significant step towards unlocking the talent that the UK requires for a more sustainable future."
One of the first apprentices, Lewis Hamilton, 18 from Dunfermline, Fife said: "It was great to be selected for this new course. I always wanted to get into engineering and now I have one of the best opportunities for training from Siemens and Carnegie College.
“I am looking forward to getting out on site and putting some of the theory we are learning into action."
DONG Energy also announced today that they will commit to employing up to eight apprentices under the scheme in 2011. The apprentices will receive training at DONG Energy's three existing offshore wind sites in the UK as well as at their projects that are under construction including the London Array, which will be the UK's largest offshore wind farm.
Peter Gedbjerg, vice president, country manager for DONG Energy Power UK said: “The wind energy industry needs bright up and coming young people to continue its rapid growth in the UK. Operating and maintaining large scale turbines offshore is no easy task so we must have the right people with the right skills.
“Last week the Government announced that they will be investing in developing the UK’s ports so that they’re able to cope with the manufacturing element of offshore wind turbines. We need the skilled people to go hand in hand with this new industry.”
DONG Energy will sponsor at least four apprentices from September 2011 with a minimum investment of £100 000.
The apprentices will have on site training at DONG Energy’s three existing offshore wind sites in the UK as well as at their projects that are under construction. This will include the chance to work on the London Array development which will be the UK’s largest offshore wind farm.
Each apprentice will spend three years with DONG Energy. The first two years will consist of schooled training in workshop environments and the apprentices will spend the third year based at DONG Energy offices and wind farms learning on the job skills.
Peter Gedbjerg added: “We’re benefitting from building wind farms in the UK and from the high quality skills pool available so it’s fair that we put something back. Contributing to the skills pool by providing training and a potential career for young people is part of our strategy.”
Anthony adams, Merseyside around 1 year, 6 months ago