OREANDA-NEWS. January 14, 2013. Almost a year after SSE announced the growth of its Highland headquarters with the creation of over 50 new jobs, the company today [Friday] invited local MP Danny Alexander to tour its Henderson Road site and meet some of the young people starting out their careers in the energy industry through its apprenticeship, trainee and graduate programmes.

In 2012, as well as expanding its base in the Highland capital, SSE appointed 18 new apprentices in the region. A further group of over 20 local young people also started out on a one year pilot training programme which is being delivered by SSE, Highlands and Islands Enterprise and Inverness College UHI. The company’s 2013 graduate development programme is already open for applications and, in the months ahead, the business plans to recruit up to 20 new apprentices and 9 Technical Skills Trainees in the north.

During the tour of the site, Mr Alexander also met members of the staff team responsible for keeping the lights on across the region, whatever the weather brings. Scottish Hydro Electric Power Distribution has this year invested ₤30 million preparing for the winter and improving the resilience of its network in the north of Scotland, which spans 25% of the UK’s land mass.

SSE’s Managing Director for Group Services, Jim McPhillimy said:

“SSE is proud of its history in the Highlands, stretching right back to the development of the hydro schemes which we are still operating today. Investing in people by providing a wide range of employment and training opportunities has always been at the heart of our success. Many of our senior managers today joined the company through earlier apprenticeship, trainee and graduate schemes.

“With a major new phase of investment underway to harness and transport clean energy from the hills, glens and coastlines of the Highlands and Islands, there has never been a more exciting time to enter the industry. We believe the jobs and skills this work brings to the area should be among its biggest and most significant legacies.

“The pilot training scheme with Inverness College UHI is just one example of what is already being done to create new opportunities for local youngsters. We look forward to seeing the partnership which we announced last year with the University of the Highlands and Islands develop and add further to the range of opportunities in the years ahead.”

Laura Sneddon, who is currently participating in SSE's Technical Staff Trainee programme said:

"I had been working with SSE for 4 years in Customer Service when I heard about the opportunity to go to University to study as well as gain valuable experience in the business. I realised this was an opportunity I did not want to miss out on. As a young mum with a baby of 22 months I knew that juggling the responsibilities of work, study and being a mother would be challenging; however, I realised that this was an opportunity I did not want to pass up. I look forward to a very successful career with SSE.”

Danny Alexander, MP for Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey said:

“There are big opportunities for the Highlands from the development of our renewable energy sector and the improved infrastructure which it requires. Private companies, public agencies, education providers and every level of government need to work together to make sure we maximise the potential, especially in creating employment for our young people. It’s great to see SSE and the University of the Highlands and Islands leading the way – and to meet a group of young people who are taking up the challenge with such enthusiasm.

“I am particularly pleased to see these apprenticeships established as that is something Liberal Democrats in UK Government are keen to encourage through our ₤1bn Youth Contract.

“Energy was at the heart of our region’s economy for much of the twentieth century, from the development of the hydro schemes to the growth of oil and gas. Skills learnt here have remained in demand both locally and across the world. If we get this right, the knowledge and skills involved in harnessing and transporting clean energy can renew that strength and help put our young people and our economy on a firm footing for many decades to come.”