The region’s power network operator had two reasons to celebrate after being named Large Employer of the Year at Wigan and Leigh College Apprentice Awards.
Not only that, Ryan Docherty fought off thousands of fellow apprentices to scoop the Higher Level Apprentice of the Year award. Electricity North West’s Ellie Chandler also made the shortlist for the award.
It is the first time Electricity North West has been recognised at the awards and Chris Havard, apprentice programme manager, said: “I am so proud of everyone involved, including both apprentices, who were shortlisted out of thousands of apprentices for the Higher Level Apprentice Award.
“This is a group effort and a testament to everyone’s hard work from the trainers, everyone at our Training Academy, the wider business and the apprentices themselves.
“I’m delighted we have all been recognised for all of our hard work and dedication to providing the very best apprenticeship scheme to our apprentices who will go on to continue to power the lives of everyone in the North West for years to come.”
Ryan, from Currock, Carlisle, started out with Electricity North West in 2017 and is Higher Level Engineering Apprentice. Gaining experience daily, Ryan was part of the Storm Ali team in September 2018 which helped restore power to more than 30,000 customers throughout Cumbria. He is expected to graduate in 2020.
“I’m really proud to win the Higher Level Apprentice Award, it’s a great honour,” Ryan added.
“Being employed by Electricity North West allows me to learn skills specific to the power network. It gives me great satisfaction knowing I’m contributing to functioning of society.
“I’d urge anybody who is considering an apprenticeship with Electricity North West to apply and take advantage of a brilliant scheme. Each day you learn something different, help is always on offer and I couldn’t recommend it enough.”
The apprentice scheme at Electricity North West takes on around 20 new apprentices each year, hand-selected from around 2000 applications in a variety of roles predominantly in an engineering or craft background. The scheme, now in its 12th year, has trained and developed more than 200 apprentices providing opportunities for local people in the region. Apprenticeships are available from entry to graduate level.
