OREANDA-NEWS. As the main construction phase of the Ferrybridge Multifuel 1 (FM1) project nears completion, all staff needed to bring the plant through commissioning have now been recruited to operational roles on-site. 

The new operations team comprises 46 full time equivalent staff who have all now started in their roles, following a successful recruitment process which attracted over 400 applicants.

Colin Drew, FM1 Plant Manager said:
“I was hugely impressed by the high number and high quality of applicants, which made the final candidate selection process very difficult. All of the selected staff have now been appointed and I feel privileged to have such a highly experienced team of men and women in FM1’s operational team.  It’s an added bonus that many also live within 20 miles of the new plant.  I’m confident that we have the right team in place to ensure that FM1 will run as effectively and efficiently as possible when we begin full operations later this year.”

Andrew ‘Sam’ Lloyd, who gained employment at FM1 said:
“I was delighted to be chosen from so many applicants for this position. I live locally and so to gain a skilled job within the area is great for me, but it’s also fantastic for my family.”

FM1, a new multifuel power station, is owned by Multifuel Energy Limited (MEL) - a joint venture between SSE and Wheelabrator Technologies Inc.  It is being built on land next to SSE’s existing Ferrybridge ‘C’ coal fired power station near Knottingley, West Yorkshire. Once FM1 is fully operational – expected to be by late summer 2015 – it will be able to produce enough electricity to power around 160,000 homes.