Innogy Launches Galloper Apprenticeship Scheme

Innogy has launched an apprenticeship scheme for the Galloper offshore wind farm for East Anglia-based young people.

The new offshore wind turbine apprenticeship scheme will see three candidates undergo on-site hands-on training together with class-based learning at East Coast College in Lowestoft.

According to innogy, the four-year scheme will give the participants the chance to get started in a new career in the offshore wind sector.

The participants will be hands-on at Galloper’s O&M base in Harwich and at the offshore wind farm site 27km off the Suffolk coast, in addition to the educational sessions as part of a tailored course.

“The apprentices will learn all the technical; health and safety, and fault-finding skills to keep our turbines running safely and efficiently,” said Galloper O&M Manager, Sean Chenery.

“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.”

Once trained, the offshore wind technicians will work at sea, operating electrical and mechanical equipment. They will also monitor and operate the wind farm assets from Galloper’s 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.

The Galloper offshore wind farm comprises 56 Siemens Gamesa 6MW turbines which produced first power in November 2017. The 353MW project was officially inaugurated on 28 September last year.