Recruitment drive for Sizewell C apprentices moves to Ipswich and Bury

Members of the Sizewell C Civils Programme have visited students from colleges in Ipswich and Bury St Edmunds in Suffolk for the latest round of assessments for apprenticeships with the project.

The engineering students studying at Suffolk New College and West Suffolk College tried out for one of dozens of apprenticeships on offer.  This assessment session followed one held at East Coast College in Lowestoft last month.  The apprenticeships for this latest cohort are in welding, project controls and engineering.

The session covered classroom based academic tests and practical assessments in the college workshops using equipment such as the welding bays.

Caleb Lawson is studying on a level three engineering course at Suffolk New College and he participated in this event. The 17-year old said: “I start my second year and after that I’d like to start an apprenticeship – hopefully with one of these firms. I’m going to get in touch with them after I’ve completed my course. The assessment day gave me a real sense of what I want to do next.”

Claire Casbolt is the head of employer engagement at Suffolk New College. She said: “We’d like to thank Sizewell C and Doosan Babcock for organising this amazing opportunity for our students. It gave them a brilliant insight into what they can expect if they choose to start an apprenticeship. They learnt new skills, were able to network, and there is a chance of a position at the end of the process. We are already discussing plans to do something similar again in the future.”

Laraine Moody, Vice Principal for employer engagement at West Suffolk College, said: “I am absolutely delighted that West Suffolk College has been able to support this Apprenticeship programme and thrilled to be working with Suffolk New College in such an innovative and collaborative manner, which puts learners at the heart of post-16 education in Suffolk.”

Dave Whitehouse is a member of the Sizewell C civils programme running the assessments.  He said:  “We are proud to be supporting industry by developing the workforces of the future.

“Offering apprenticeship opportunities to Engineering students from this region underpins our support to both Sizewell C and the Sizewell C Consortium to provide jobs locally.

“Developing the next generation of talent, firstly at Hinkley Point C, then transitioning to Sizewell C will support long term career paths for hundreds over the duration of the projects.”