Budding engineers can apply for an apprenticeship at Drax through its Technical Apprenticeship Scheme which is now open.
The scheme offers successful candidates the chance to learn a trade, develop new skills and launch their career in engineering at the UK’s biggest power station and the largest decarbonisation project in Europe.
Having upgraded half of the power station from coal to use renewable biomass, nearly 70% of the power produced at Drax Power Station, is now renewable – enough for four million households.
Drax is looking for six technical craft apprentices who will be trained in engineering to work within the maintenance department at Drax Power Station. They will work on new and recently upgraded plant designed to process renewable fuels and the maintenance of the power station.
Andy Koss, Drax Power CEO said:
“For anyone wanting to start their career in engineering, it doesn’t get much better than learning their trade at the UK’s biggest power station.
“It’s an exciting time to join Drax – as well as having upgraded half of the power station to use sustainable biomass, we’re also developing four rapid response gas power projects, exploring options for repowering two of our remaining coal generating units to gas and developing large-scale battery storage.”
He added: “An apprenticeship is a brilliant way to start a career in engineering. We’ve got lots of successful former apprentices working at Drax Power Station – there are engineers, section heads and department managers who all started out as apprentices.
“In order to attract the best people for the roles we hope to appeal to a diverse range of candidates from all backgrounds and would encourage anyone with an interest to apply.”
Tom Glennon-Fell, a third year technical apprentice based at Drax Power Station said: “The Drax Apprenticeship Scheme has given me the best chance to go far and be successful in my career by learning and getting hands on experience at Drax.
“I’m in my third year as an apprentice and really enjoy the variety of work I do, on a day to day basis working with some of the most experienced and knowledgeable people in the power sector.”
The Drax Apprenticeship Training Scheme is a four year programme, with each apprentice spending the first two years training in Loughborough, where travel and accommodation is provided.
In the third and fourth years, apprentices will be primarily based at Drax Power Station, near Selby in North Yorkshire with places available in three engineering disciplines: Mechanical, Electrical and Control & Instrumentation.
Applications for the Technical Apprenticeship Scheme in 2018 are now being accepted and will close on 31st January 2018.
Drax will also be offering other apprenticeships over the course of the year in business support areas, such as Finance and Business Administration. All opportunities are advertised on the website at https://draxgroup.csod.com/ats/careersite/search.aspx?site=7&c=draxgroup&company=draxgroup;draxpower
To find out more about working at Drax, go to https://www.drax.com/us/careers/
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Media contacts:
Ali Lewis
Head of News
Drax Group
01757 612165
[email protected]
Jessica Gorton
Press Officer
Drax Group
07712 677177
[email protected]
Notes to editors:
- Drax Group is playing a vital role in helping change the way energy is generated, supplied and used as the UK moves to a low carbon future.
- It is consulting on long-term options to repower up to two coal units to gas, and build battery storage at Drax Power Station.
- It also plans to build and operate four, 299 MW open cycle gas turbine (OCGT) power stations in England and Wales:
- Hirwaun Power, in Wales
- Progress Power, in Suffolk
- Millbrook Power, In Bedfordshire
- Abergelli Power, in Wales
- Find out more at https://www.drax.com/us/about-us/our-businesses-and-projects/
- Independent research by Oxford Economics using 2016 data showed that Drax generated £577m for the Northern Powerhouse regional economy (Yorkshire and Humber, North West and North East) in 2016 and supported more than 6,000 jobs. (Drax Power Station itself employs around 900 people).
- Drax has a longstanding commitment to STEM (Science Technology Engineering and Maths) learning, with around 20,000 educational visits to the power station taking place in 2017. These ranged from primary school to degree level students, with visits tailored to suit the educational level required by the school, college or university.
Drax and STEM Learning
Drax has a longstanding commitment to STEM learning, with around 20,000 educational visits to the power station taking place in 2017. These range from Primary School to degree level, and all visits are tailored to the level of the visiting school, college or university.
To find out more about working at Drax, go to https://www.drax.com/us/careers/
About Drax Group
Drax Group plc plays a vital role in helping change the way energy is generated, supplied and used as the UK moves to a low carbon future. Drax operates the largest power station in the UK, based at Selby, North Yorkshire and supplies 7 percent of the country’s electricity needs. The energy firm converted from burning coal to become a predominantly biomass-fuelled electricity generator. Drax is the biggest single site renewable generator in the UK and the largest decarbonisation project in Europe. Its 2,300-strong staff operate across three principal areas of activity – electricity generation, electricity sales to business customers and compressed wood pellet production.
The Group includes:
Drax Biomass, based in the US and manufactures compressed wood pellets produced from sustainably managed working forests.
Haven Power, based in Ipswich, providing businesses with electricity.
Opus Energy, based in Oxford, Northampton and Cardiff, providing electricity and gas to businesses.
For more information visit www.drax.com/us
