Sizewell B new apprentices visit HMS Sultan

A group of new EDF Energy apprentices have taken their families to visit HMS Sultan in Portsmouth, the training centre where they will spend the next two years.

The group got to look around the facilities and hear more about the popular apprenticeship and training ahead of them.

This year's group of 51 apprentices, which includes four apprentices who will be based at Sizewell B, was appointed during the summer.The four new recruits for Sizewell B all came from local schools.  Kieran Butler, 20, studied at Alde Valley Academy in Leiston and Lowestoft College, Bethany Grant, 21, came from Westbourne Academy in Ipswich, Sophie Mason, 17, from Chantry Academy and Suffolk New College in Ipswich and Bailey Payne, 18, from Lynn Grove Academy in Great Yarmouth and Lowestoft College.

Roger Barge, Sizewell B apprentice coordinator said: "It was great to show the apprentices and their families the training facilities at HMS Sultan which always helps to prepare them for when they start in September."Following their tour of the training centre in Portsmouth the group will join Sizewell B on 26 August. They will get to look around the power station and meet some of the management team. Then it is off to Ullswater in the Lake District on Monday 29 August for an outward bounds course where they will meet other EDF Energy apprentices from power stations across the UK.  Team building will be encouraged while they take part in outdoor activities which will culminate in climbing Helvellyn.

The following week on Tuesday 6 September, they travel to HMS Sultan to start studying, learning basic engineering skills in the first year, before specialising into their trade in the second year.The apprentice recruitment coincides with EDF Energy's national campaign to change teenage girls' perceptions of science and inspire them to pursue science-based careers.

Last year, EDF Energy launched #PrettyCurious, a long term programme to encourage more teenage girls to study STEM. The programme aims to give girls hands-on experiences and provide them with opportunities to learn about the wide range of careers available in STEM.Although the company's generating stations already have a number of successful female apprentices, EDF Energy wants to attract more.