New apprentices start with Sizewell B

Four local students have started their apprenticeships with Sizewell B this month. They brought their families to meet the senior management team at the power station and find out more about the next steps in their apprenticeships.

The apprentices start with an outward bounds course in the Lake District to get to know one another and bond as a team before getting down to work in the classroom. For the first two years they will be based at the National College for Nuclear, in Somerset before they transfer back to Sizewell B for their on-the-job training.

The four new recruits for Sizewell B came from local schools. Dominic Pearce went to Archbishop Sancroft High School, Harleston, and University Technical College Norwich, James Pearce Saxmundham Free School, Max Scull attended Notre Dame High School, Norwich and Mayah Newman attended Kesgrave High School, Suffolk One Sixth Form and Suffolk New College.

Jack Hovell has also joined the Sizewell B team this month and has been fast tracked straight into the third year of the apprenticeship scheme following the closure of the company he worked for previously which meant he could not complete his course.  Jack will continue his L3 Electrical maintenance Apprenticeship at Colchester Institute whilst gaining on the job training at Sizewell B.

Robert Gunn, Sizewell B station director said: ” It’s a pleasure to welcome the new apprentices into our Sizewell B family. We recognise that starting the apprenticeship is the first step on their exciting career path with us and it is important that they can share this moment with their families.”

The Engineering Maintenance Apprenticeship Scheme 

This is a four-year programme that focuses on skills required to maintain our power stations.  As well as the technical side, we help develop the attitudes and behaviours essential to the safe operation of our power stations. Upon completion, apprentices will be awarded a Maintenance and Operations Engineering Technician Apprenticeship Certificate, plus a BTEC Level 3, with the potential for further education such as a HNC.

For the first two years our apprentices are based at the National College for Nuclear, delivered through Bridgwater and Taunton College, Somerset. During this time they undergo training in academic and workshop environments to ensure they gain an excellent introduction to engineering and develop a strong skills foundation. Part of this programme also covers the development of life skills, like confidence and communication.