UK: 3sun Group Takes on 20 Apprentices

3sun Group, a leading provider of products and services to the energy industry in the UK and internationally, has announced that it has taken on a record 20 apprentices. It is a major achievement for the company as it continues its efforts to train the workforce of tomorrow.

The company is exhibiting at stand 189 at Renewable UK this week, 30 Oct – 1 Nov, taking place at the SECC in Glasgow.

Last year the Group recruited ten individuals in what was a significant rise from previous years when it took on two or three apprentices per year. The apprentices are trained through the ECITB which aims to ensure that the programme is matched to the needs of the industry and employers.

The new recruits, ranging in age from 16 to 25, will spend the next two years undertaking the ECITB course, with three individual groups undertaking training and development in electrical, instrumentation and controls, and mechanical disciplines.

Graham Hacon, managing director of 3sun Group, said: “3sun Group is a strong supporter of apprenticeships and we work hard to recruit young people leaving education and those leaving the construction industry or the Armed Forces with transferable skills.

 “Last year we took on our largest intake to date which was ten apprentices and this year, hitting the 20 mark, is a real milestone for us. We are proud of the fact that we can offer employment in this way whilst also filling the industry skills gap and supporting the needs of the energy industry.

 “Taking on apprentices is a big expense and responsibility, costing anything between £10,000 – £20,000 per apprentice per year however it is an investment we are willing to make to help progress the industry. There is no shortage of people looking to do apprenticeships so, as an employer, it is not a difficult process if you’re willing to shoulder the cost.

 “We have been, and strive to continue to be, proactive in targeting government funding to help support apprenticeships and will continue to do so to lead the industry in seeing the benefits available from investing in training and development, not just to your company but the industry as a whole. In the energy sector we have a maturing workforce so we need to do what we can now to train the workforce of tomorrow. We need to focus on the bigger picture,” he continued.

3sun Group comprises of 3sun, a supplier of instrumentation and control products and services, and Dawson Energy, an industry leader in delivering installation and maintenance services for wind turbines. It also recently launched a new division, 3sun Inspection Services, which offers a full range of equipment inspection and testing services for the oil and gas and renewables industries.

It is headquartered in Great Yarmouth and has bases in Oban and Aberdeen in Scotland, and Bergen in Norway. The apprentices will be deployed within all three of the Group’s divisions, primarily working in Aberdeen and Great Yarmouth.

3sun Group employs over 175 staff working both on and offshore and has worked on Energy projects all over the world including UK, Malta, Tunisia, Ghana, Singapore, Angola, Ivory Coast, Ireland, France, Denmark, Sweden, the USA and New Zealand.

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Press release, October 31, 2012; Image: thinkpr