Highland youngsters aged 16-24 are being offered the chance to train for a career in the energy industry.
Energy company SSE is looking to recruit 28 people for a new 12-month training programme which will give them valuable hands on experience of the industry, while the skills learned will help recruits develop a successful career.
The programme has been developed in conjunction with Highlands and Islands Enterprise and Inverness College and is due to begin in September.
Looking further ahead, SSE expects to make significant investments in training and employment across the Highlands and islands as energy development takes place.
The programme will provide bespoke training to bring recruits into the SSE business, giving them an excellent head start to life in the energy industry with topics covering construction, craft, electrical engineering, safety and the energy industry in general.
SSE has been working closely with Job Centre Plus, Skills Development Scotland and Lifeskills to help identify potential candidates and is urging those interested in the scheme to register their interest in advance of an open day at Inverness College on Thursday, August 16.
Applicants need to be aged between 16 and 24 and have three standard grade passes, at any level or subject.
SSE’s managing director for group services, Jim McPhillimy, said: “The Highland region has always been very important to us since the early ‘Hydro’ days and we have significant development opportunities in the region planned for the future.
“We are determined to leave a lasting legacy for the next generation and our pilot training programme is a further signal of our intent.
“The programme is unique and a first for us, covering an extremely diverse wide-range of topics. It has been specifically developed with the view to bring recruits into the SSE family and we are really looking forward to meeting with youngsters in the Highlands with an interest in pursing an exciting career in the energy industry.”
Councillor Thomas Prag, chairman of Highland Council’s planning, environment and development committee, said: “This is exactly the kind of thing we need from the renewables industry and all credit to SSE for picking up the challenge.
“At a time when young people in the Highlands face an increasingly difficult time in the jobs market this is bound to attract a lot of interest from some high-quality applicants.
“The skills they gain will stand them and the Highlands in good stead for years to come.”
o Applications for the 28 positions are being handled by Pauline Doull at Job Centre Plus. Contact her on 01463 888114 or at pauline.doull@jobcentre plus.gsi.gov.uk
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