Frimley, UK, 2015-Sep-30
By completing their apprenticeships, the remaining 32 of the original intake become qualified to work upon some of the largest wind turbines of their kind in the world, in some of the world’s largest wind farms.
To get to this point has taken perseverance, diligence and a great deal of hard work, both academic and practical. The apprentices have learnt to apply their new-found expertise while withstanding sometimes challenging conditions, often away from their homes for weeks at a time.
The studies that they have taken qualify them with both Siemens’ own world-leading qualifications and with an NVQ level 3 award, which is recognised industry-wide.
The apprenticeship begins with interviews, medical suitability assessments and aptitude tests. Having passed these, the men and women – excellence is the crucial criteria, not gender – are welcomed onto the course for their initial year’s study at college for a technical certificate.
The second year of the apprenticeship begins with a six-week training course, at Siemens’ £9m custom-built training facility in Newcastle. Following immediately on from that course is practical application as the trainees are posted to a wind farm to act as what is known as “2nd or 3rd man”, to gain competence under the Wind Turbine Safety Rules. Formal studies for the NVQ level 3 award also begin this year.
At the end of that year, having passed the halfway point of their apprenticeship, trainees work towards becoming Maintenance Technician qualified – with this they are able to move around different sites as their skill level is now acknowledged. Rigorous study for the NVQ continues throughout this year, with an added pressure of them needing to apply to gain a full-time role once they qualify.
Their fourth and final year is dominated by the completion of their NVQ qualification and achieving the “Trouble shooter” profile – an internal competence framework that recognises those that pass as being at the peak of their chosen profession.
The attrition rate, from those originally applying to become apprentices, is very high; only the most able and best get to finish their apprenticeship and be awarded the status of a Wind Technician. In return, they will enter a profession where they may work around the UK, or indeed the world, onshore or offshore in environments few get the privilege of witnessing.
Grant Walker, Managing director Wind Power and Renewables says, “I am delighted to welcome 32 remarkable people into the Siemens family as fully qualified Wind Technicians. To pass such a complex four year qualification is a great achievement, and we are looking forward to a long and productive association with each of them.”
-ENDS-
Contacts for journalists:
Guy Dorrell, Siemens plc
Mobile: 07808 823177
Email: guy.dorrell@siemens.com
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About Siemens
Siemens AG (Berlin and Munich) is a global technology powerhouse that has stood for engineering excellence, innovation, quality, reliability and internationality for more than 165 years. The company is active in more than 200 countries, focusing on the areas of electrification, automation and digitalization. One of the world’s largest producers of energy-efficient, resource-saving technologies, Siemens is No. 1 in offshore wind turbine construction, a leading supplier of combined cycle turbines for power generation, a major provider of power transmission solutions and a pioneer in infrastructure solutions as well as automation, drive and software solutions for industry. The company is also a leading provider of medical imaging equipment – such as computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging systems – and a leader in laboratory diagnostics as well as clinical IT. In fiscal 2014, which ended on September 30, 2014, Siemens generated revenue from continuing operations of €71.9 billion and net income of €5.5 billion. At the end of September 2014, the company had around 357,000 employees worldwide. Further information is available on the Internet at www.siemens.com.
