A NEW offshore wind turbine apprenticeship scheme for young people has been launched.

The scheme for Galloper Wind Farm has been announced, giving young people in East Anglia the chance to get started in a career in the growing offshore wind sector.

Just three candidates will be chosen to join the four-year scheme which will include both practical experience and comprehensive classroom-based learning.

They will be hands-on at Galloper’s operations and maintenance base in Harwich and offshore wind farm site, 27 kilometres off the Suffolk coast, and will undertake educational sessions as part of a tailored course at the East Coast College, in Lowestoft.

Sean Chenery, Galloper operations and maintenance manager, said: “The apprentices will learn all the technical, health and safety, and fault-finding skills to keep our turbines running safely and efficiently.

“This is a hugely exciting and unique opportunity for motivated young people with a passion for engineering to join our skilled team and evolve into fully fledged offshore wind turbine technicians.”

Once trained, the offshore wind technicians will work at sea, in all weathers and at heights of up to 100 metres, operating complex electrical and mechanical equipment with safety always the first priority.

They will also monitor and operate the wind farm assets from Galloper’s state-of-the-art control room in Harwich in a 24/7 shift pattern.

On successful completion of the scheme, the graduates will receive a Level 3 diploma in engineering and will be well placed for a long career in the expanding offshore wind industry.

Mr Chenery added: “It’s a hugely rewarding career working on highly technical machinery and is particularly suited to those who enjoy working outside, with their hands and who have an affinity with the marine environment.

“They will be commuting to work via one of our crew transfer vessels, so it is definitely not your usual nine-to-five office-based job.”

Applicants need to have five GCSEs at C or above ideally including science and maths, be keen to learn, able to work at heights and at sea and willing to work shifts.

More information can be found on the jobs page of the Galloper website and applications for the apprenticeship scheme close on Friday, May 24.