Douglas Alexander MP has visited Torness power station to catch up on the latest developments at the site with the management team and meet some of the apprentices just starting out on their careers in the industry.
The station’s owners, EDF, have been recruiting new apprentices to join its renowned Maintenance and Operations Engineering Technician training programme, offering fresh opportunities for young people in East Lothian to begin a career in the industry.
Applications for the current round of recruitment close on Friday 30 October.
Following the visit Mr Alexander re-iterated his ongoing support for the station and the vital contribution it makes to energy security, jobs and apprenticeships, and the local economy.
Douglas Alexander MP said:
“I was delighted to visit Torness power station again for the third time. I’m grateful to all the staff and apprentices who took time out to chat me about their work and some of the latest developments at the site.
“The contribution Torness makes to our energy security, jobs and economy remains vital. It provides reliable, zero-carbon electricity, high-skilled jobs and apprenticeships as well as a significant boost to the local economy in East Lothian.
“The UK’s civil nuclear industry is entering an exciting new era of investment, so an apprenticeship can lead to high-skilled, well-paid jobs for decades to come. However, if the Scottish Government continues to reject the possibility of new nuclear facilities, those jobs will eventually all be in other parts of the UK or abroad.
“I want East Lothian and the rest of Scotland to be able to share in the new investment and high-quality jobs that are already being created in other parts of the UK so that the Torness site can keep benefiting our energy security and local economy in the future.”
Paul Forrest, Station Director at Torness, said:
“Our apprenticeship programme offers an opportunity to build a rewarding career in engineering, so it was great that some of the current cohort were able to meet with Douglas and tell him about their work.
“The apprentices always speak with such enthusiasm about their training, they are fantastic advocates for the site and for the wider industry.”
Find out more about nuclear and engineering jobs and apprenticeships at EDF here www.careers.edfenergy.com/jobs.