A record number of apprentices are being taken on by Ideal Heating as it prepares the next generation workforce with skills in renewable energy.
The Hull-headquartered business will welcome at least 10 new recruits this year as it builds for the future - with a £16 million expansion on site and new £1 million green tech training site to emerge at Bridgehead, Hessle, in the coming months.
The company is transitioning from gas-fired boilers to hydrogen and heat pumps, and is ensuring the skills are in place alongside the technology.
Read more: Record apprenticeship recruitment campaign launches for Wren
Successful applicants will help Ideal play a part in the UK’s drive to become a net-zero economy by 2050, as it increases its production of low carbon heating products.
Maria Cunningham, Ideal’s HR advisor for development, said: “Nurturing the next generation of talent is something we’re passionate about, and 2022 will see a record number of apprenticeship opportunities become available in the business. We’re excited to be able to pass on our knowledge and expertise to the workforce of the future as we focus on providing greener energy alternatives.”
Roles will be offered across the business, where 15 apprentices are currently on site at various stages in their qualifications.Maria said: “Whether working in our R&D department, as an engineer in our manufacturing centre of excellence, or within the digital services department, all our apprentices contribute to our collective journey of reducing carbon emissions.”
The National Avenue business - part of the French multinational Groupe Atlantic - employs more than 1,300 people in Hull, and has been offering apprenticeships throughout its 116 year history.
“The resources and training we provide allows apprentices to undertake high impact, structured programmes alongside our experts carrying out both theoretical and practical work as part of our end-to-end service,” Maria said.
It comes as the new development at Bridgehead will create 10 to 15 new roles, with engineers from across the UK heading to the Humber Bank for training.
Adam Foy, managing director of sales, marketing and research and development at Ideal, has confirmed the additions following last month’s announcement.
He said: “10 to 15 new jobs will be created directly related to heat pumps. Our ambition is to create many more jobs in the Hull area as the renewables market continues to grow.”
Across the river, and Phillips 66 is also greening up operations with apprentices to play a key role. Huge investments in alternatives to fossil fuel as a feedstock are being made, with products also going into electric vehicles, having filled petrol tanks for decades.
Sustainable aviation fuel has also become another huge focus, with a major deal with British Airways struck late last year.
It is taking a further six on to join the 20 recruited in the past three years.
And in Grimsby, complex chemical engineering facility Solenis is recruiting two apprentices as it looks at geothermal heating as a market for its water treatment products, traditionally used in oil fields and mining.
