Six young people will earn as they learn in one of the most beautiful parts of the UK after joining Northumbrian Water’s team at Kielder Water & Forest Park.
The group have taken up sponsored placements with Northumbrian Water, as they follow apprenticeship programmes through Gateshead College.
Half of the group, Victoria Grundy, Ryan Welton and Harry Ross Mellars, have taken on the roles of Apprentice Rangers, helping to look after the natural environment and wildlife around the company’s sites, while Alex Proud and Ben Pickett will work as Maintenance Apprentices.
The sixth, Ryan Gardner, has joined the team as an Apprentice in the Guest Services team, helping to deliver the highest possible standards in visitor experience.
Tracey Greener, Training Contracts Manager at Northumbrian Water, said: “Apprenticeships are a fantastic opportunity to gain real work place experience while also learning the academic elements that support a career. It’s fantastic that we have been able to offer such a valuable experience to these six young people in the beautiful surroundings of Kielder.
“Kielder Water & Forest Park has built up over the last 35 years around an operational site, Kielder Water, which is Northern Europe’s largest man made lake. This unique setting these young people a chance to earn and learn in a place where they will come into contact with a range of disciplines and job types, from customer service, travel and tourism, to environmentalism, maintenance and water supply.
“It’s a fantastic opportunity for us to work with and support young people who will be a part of the work force of the future.”
Earlier this year, Northumbrian Water Group helped to launch the Energy & Utilities Skills Partnership, with the aim of filling 221,000 roles in the sector by 2027.