Your chance to become a wind turbine technician apprentice in Sussex

Operators of Rampion Offshore Wind farm, RWE, have opened recruitment for two new wind turbine technician apprentices at the site, in National Apprenticeship Week (February 7 to 13).

“We have already taken on ten local apprentices and nine of them are either still in training or in full time employment as technicians on Rampion Offshore Wind Farm,” said Richard

Crowhurst, general manager at Rampion Offshore Wind Farm.

“Our apprenticeship scheme is part of our commitment to continue investing in development of local skills.

"Offshore wind is an exciting and growing industry, with the number of people working in direct and indirect jobs in the UK’s world-leading offshore wind industry set to rise significantly, from 26,000 currently to over 69,800* by 2026.”

RWE said the three-year apprenticeship scheme provides the opportunity for motivated people to begin a career in renewable energy and develop into technicians working on offshore wind turbines.

The first two years are 'predominantly classroom based' and spent completing a BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma qualification in Electrical and Electronic Engineering, as well as a range of practical training courses at a bespoke Wind Turbine training facility at Llandrillo College in North Wales.

The third year will consist of on-site training at Rampion, based out of the operations and maintenance base in Newhaven, East Sussex.

George Smith joined the apprenticeship last year.

He was working in the automotive industry as an apprentice engine test and installation technician before deciding that he wanted to make the change into the renewable industry.

He said: “There is a massive future in this industry and so far, I am really enjoying being away with the RWE apprentices; we all have a great bond already. For me, choosing Rampion as the site that I wanted to work with during my apprenticeship was a no brainer.

“If I had any advice for anyone else who was in my position, I would one hundred percent recommend them to make the same choice that I did, as I haven’t looked back and am

loving every single second of it.”

Another apprentice who joined last year, Fiona McColgan, moved to Brighton to study and realised she wanted to do something more tangible after working from home during the pandemic.

She said: “I studied Geography at university and had a keen interest in sustainability. Prior to the apprenticeship I had no experience in engineering. I was based in the financial and public sector for the last seven years, working in senior compliance roles. Having lots of time to reflect over the pandemic gave me the push to go for it.”

Successful applicants will be part of a group of eight apprentices from around the UK. If successful, the apprentices will qualify with a C&GNVQ Level 3 Diploma in wind turbine operations and maintenance.

An RWE spokesperson said: "The Rampion Offshore Wind Farm, located 13km off the Sussex coast, produces enough energy to power 350,000 homes and reduce carbon emissions by 600,000 tonnes per year."

The closing date for applications is March 15 and the full-time, fixed-term contract will start in September this year.

Candidates can apply via the RWE website or on the Rampion website.

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