SGN apprentices attend their induction at East Sussex College
We've given a warm welcome this week to our latest new apprentices, thanks to our partnership with East Sussex College.
The team of gas network operatives completed their induction at the Eastbourne campus, which was led by college tutors and managers from our company, which operates across southern England and Scotland.
The new recruits are the latest to join SGN, which is providing 197 apprenticeship and training opportunities this year as part of ongoing plans to train and upskill more of the workforce across both network areas. Over the past 12 months we have welcomed over 260 apprentices, trainees and graduates onto our early careers programmes.
In southern England, East Sussex College is working with us to provide the classroom learning which apprentices combine with on the job training alongside experienced professionals over a two-year period. Once they are qualified, they will work at the frontline of providing a safe and reliable supply of gas to our 6 million customers, with the potential to become team leaders.
The college works collaboratively with a variety of employers in delivering the job training and qualifications that apprentices need to complete their learning programme.
Long and rewarding career
SGN Early Careers Manager Michael Gillies said: “We’ve established an excellent relationship with East Sussex College which provides the best start for our apprentices in the south who have the potential for a long and rewarding career with SGN.
“The apprentices have joined us after attending assessment centre days which we’ve been running over the past few months. We will help prepare them for the future and invest in them, providing learning opportunities to help them develop their skills, knowledge and behaviours in the gas industry.”
Donna Harfield, vice principal at the college, added: “The programme isn’t just for school leavers, this is for those who want to change their careers and get their qualifications to be successful in their chosen fields.
“We provide a tailor-made training facility which simulates their real life ‘on the job’ environment the apprentices can expect. We’re thrilled to be welcoming the latest recruits and wish them well as they start on their new careers.”
SGN has an ongoing commitment to the recruitment of apprentices and we will recruit 150 candidates annually. We run the same training partnership in Scotland with Fife College.
This week, we also held our latest onboarding day for a selection of other new starters in operational front-line roles. These sessions have been running since the spring and part of our commitment to step up resourcing plans over the coming year.
Once onboard, new hires will receive high quality, comprehensive training as part of our plans to underpin its skills base for the future and drive excellence across its frontline workforce.
Some of our new recruits on their first day at Walton Park in Portsmouth
Operational colleagues being onboarded at Walton Park in Portsmouth this week
