27 Oct 2015
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Eakring training centre in Nottinghamshire gearing up for more trainees
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National Grid extends living wage to apprentices and trainees
National Grid's Training Academy at Eakring in Nottinghamshire is gearing up to open its doors to hundreds more apprentices in the coming years.
National Grid Chief Executive Steve Holliday said the company is likely to double the number of apprentices and trainee engineers it will be employing over the next decade to address a skills shortage in the industry.
All the trainees will be passing through the Nottinghamshire centre during their courses and apprenticeships. In recent years, National Grid has invested £12 million in new facilities, including state-of-the art working replicas of gas and electricity installations and a virtual reality training suite.
Mr Holliday recently visited the centre to present certificates to young people who have qualified after three years of study and on-the-job training.
He said: 'Over the last ten years 1,325 young people have graduated from a National Grid Advanced Apprenticeship, Engineer Training Programme or Graduate Development Programme. Looking ahead, we will very likely double that number in the next ten years.
'Eakring is a fantastic investment in our future. We believe we need the very best talent, which is why we are investing a phenomenal amount of money in our facilities and training programmes. In our company it doesn't matter where you start - the world is your oyster.'
National Grid New Talent Manager Aaron Coulson says the centre is geared up and ready for the rise in new apprentices and trainees.
'In September we took on 183 new people across our apprenticeships, graduate schemes and engineer training programmes with the number set to rise to 250 next year,' he explained.
'We have invested millions of pounds in new facilities at Eakring and our education programmes have been judged as outstanding by Ofsted. The Academy can look forward to a long and secure future.'
National Grid apprentices and trainees have a further reason to celebrate. The company, which was recently named as a Living Wage employer, has extended this scheme to include not only its staff but also those taking part in its training programmes. This means that all employees will now earn at least £7.85 an hour.
Mr Holiday has presented a plaque to the Eakring centre, recognising National Grid's accreditation as Living Wage employer.
He said: 'We have been accredited as a Living Wage employer but we go beyond the minimum and apply these principles to our apprentices, interns and graduates.'
Pictured (left to right) apprentices Hatim Isap, Megan Holt and Jack Stott celebrate National Grid being accredited as a Living Wage employer