ScottishPower has welcomed over 60 students to its Year in Industry programme this month – its largest ever intake.
Based across ScottishPower’s UK operations, the programme offers recent school leavers, undergraduates and recent graduates a chance to work for a company at the heart of the UK’s work to achieve Net Zero for a full year.
Earning the Real Living Wage, students are given placements across a broad range of disciplines contributing first-hand to the 100% green energy company’s work.
On starting their Year in Industry with ScottishPower at their Glasgow headquarters, Gbenuola Olatunde, joining the SP Energy Networks Customer Service team as a Vulnerability Analyst, said: “Ever since my days in University, I’d always had the curiosity to find out how we can use the earth’s resources without damaging it further for future generations.
“My curiosity directed my interest into companies that are active in renewable energy, like ScottishPower who have a lot of key projects aiming to make the world a better place, how could I say no?”
This is the 19th year ScottishPower has offered the programme which runs in conjunction with the Engineering Development Trust (EDT), and aims to enhance a student’s employability, aiding them in their future careers by gaining real life, paid work experience within the industry.
Sarah McNulty, Director of People at ScottishPower, said: “It has been a privilege for ScottishPower to offer the Year in Industry programme for almost twenty years. Every year we see so many young, talented people join us, bringing with them new ideas and a passion for their role. We hope that they get as much out of the programme as we do by having them join our teams.
“This programme is part of a wealth of early career opportunities that we offer to help inspire young people as they look at what their career path might hold for them in the future.”
Alongside the Year in Industry programme, ScottishPower has also welcomed over 50 new recruits across its Pre-Apprenticeship and Master Scholars’ Programme.
Located in Edinburgh, Glasgow and Cheshire the Pre-Apprenticeship programme offers people who may not have the minimum entry requirements for a craft apprenticeship, a year-long course to further their qualifications and experience to help them with their future careers.
The Master Scholars programme supports students studying a topic relevant to ScottishPower and the wider green energy industry. Students receive a bursary for the year and are then offered a graduate role with ScottishPower following the completion of the programme.