Darren Millar visited Coleg Llandrillo’s Rhos-on-Sea Campus to see how the new wind turbine apprentices are progressing at the country’s first wind turbine dedicated training centre.
Darren Millar, Assembly Member for Clwyd West, spoke to the nine wind turbine apprentices who started their intensive training at Coleg Llandrillo’s specialist renewable energy centre last September, joining the existing six apprentices who returned to complete their second year. The apprentices were chosen out of hundreds of applications after a rigorous selection process.
Five of the new trainee technicians are RWE npower apprentices and the remaining four are from ISOFab, a mechanical engineering contractor based in Treherbert in the Rhondda. The ISOFab apprentices completed their first year at Neath Port Talbot College but joined Coleg Llandrillo to complete their Level 3 Wind Turbine Apprenticeship framework.
Darren Millar AM said: "I am absolutely delighted that Coleg Llandrillo has this state-of-the-art centre here in North Wales. It was fantastic to get the chance to talk to the students and get their views on training, jobs and funding. They were very enthusiastic.
"I realise that not everyone is a fan of wind turbines, but no-one can deny that this is a thriving industry and we need to take advantage of the economic opportunities that they present. I would like to thank Coleg Llandrillo for doing just that."
A new apprenticeship scheme for the renewables sector was launched in May 2012 to provide skilled, long-term jobs in the renewables industry. First Minister of Wales, the Rt Hon Carwyn Jones AM, officially launched the country’s first wind turbine technician apprenticeship programme and dedicated training centre in December 2012 at Coleg Llandrillo’s Rhos-on-Sea campus.
Two of the Apprentices, Natasha Frost from Rhyl and Chris Newens from Llandudno, are former Coleg Llandrillo Engineering students. Natasha said: "It was great to be able to quiz the local AM and get the inside track concerning government attitudes on the renewable energy sector.
"I heard about the apprentice scheme last year when I was on the Engineering course. I never dreamed that I would be successful out of the hundreds of applicants, but hopefully I can eventually secure a job for life after my training."
Each apprentice will complete a three-year course, with the aim of moving into a full-time engineering post with RWE npower or ISOFab. The first two years of training will be at Coleg Llandrillo and the final year will be on site. Each year, as well as the training, the apprentices receive a salary.
RWE npower renewables has been working closely with Coleg Llandrillo, as well as representatives from EU Skills and the National Skills Academy for Power, to bring these apprenticeships to Wales. Recruits will work on some of the company’s largest flagship projects onshore and offshore in Wales – including Gwynt y Môr, one of the largest offshore wind farms in construction in Europe. These projects have a significant 20-year lifespan, and so the skills that apprentices learn can be applied over the long term, and will be at the cutting edge of engineering skills for the future.
Glyn Jones, CEO of Grŵp Llandrillo Menai, said: "Energy is one of the Grŵp’s key sectors for economic activity, with all three Colleges - Coleg Llandrillo, Coleg Meirion-Dwyfor and Coleg Menai - developing provision in this area.
"Grŵp Llandrillo Menai’s recent approval as a ‘National Skills Academy for Environmental Technologies’ confirms its importance in helping to expand the low carbon energy sector within Wales, and supports the Grŵp’s strategic goal of developing its curriculum to reflect local priorities and also the economic aspirations and priorities of Wales."
For more information on wind turbine apprenticeships at Coleg Llandrillo, please contact the College’s Learner Services team on 01492 542 338.
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