Renewable energy leader Drax has welcomed five new apprentice engineers to support its ambitious decarbonisation plans for the UK.
The youngsters are joining the company’s technical apprenticeship scheme at Drax Power Station, near Selby.
One of the apprentices who is excited to start her career at Drax is Keeley Sheldon, 17, from nearby Selby. She said: “I have a great interest in engineering and wanted to pursue this as my career,” she said. “I made an application to Drax knowing that this would be a great company to work for.
“I know being female and going into this career will be a challenge which I’m looking forward to and to want to break the stereotype label and know Drax will be an excellent employer to help me do this. Drax is well known both locally and globally so being given this opportunity is amazing and I’m excited to get started and for my future in engineering.”
Bruce Heppenstall, Drax Power Station Plant Director, said: “It was fantastic to welcome our latest group of apprentices to Drax Power Station. They are an extremely talented group of young people and I’m so pleased they have chosen to take their first steps in their engineering careers with Drax.
“The plant is pioneering carbon capture and storage technology and these young apprentices could one day be working at the world’s first carbon negative power station. By giving them the engineering skills today, we are ensuring they are ready to take full advantage of the opportunities of tomorrow.”
The four-year apprenticeship gives new recruits the opportunity to gain expertise working alongside the world-class engineers at the power station. The plant has been transformed over the last decade as part of Europe’s largest decarbonisation project, swapping coal to generate renewable electricity using sustainable biomass.
