08 August 2006 00:00 Central Networks recruits next generation of engineers to help power the region for the future
Central Networks, the electricity distribution company for central England, today welcomes a new generation of power engineers into the Power Academy, a pioneering scheme to encourage young engineers into the power industry.
This summer nine undergraduates from across the country will be spending two months with the company as part of a special Power Academy scholarship they have been awarded.
Neil Moneypenny, David Johnson, Stephen McIllvanna, James Pilgrim, Graham Stewart, King Yit Law, Robert Orr, Stephen Hammond and Kevin Duffy beat off stiff competition to win their prestigious Power Academy scholarship and a placement with Central Networks, which is part of E.ON UK, for the duration of their engineering degrees.
Bob Taylor, Central Networks Managing Director and Chairman of the Power Academy, said: “One of the biggest challenges we currently face is overcoming the serious shortfall of electrical engineers in our industry.
“It’s essential that we take steps as a business and an industry to ensure we encourage the best people with the right skills into our profession to maintain our electricity network and to help meet future energy needs.
“Since joining forces with industry partners and the country’s leading engineering universities to create the Power Academy in 2004, we have made excellent progress in the campaign to get more students to consider a career in our profession.”
Initially boasting three universities, ten partnering companies and 40 student places, the Power Academy has now grown to include six universities, 15 partnering companies and 85 student places.
Central Networks recently hosted the second annual Power Academy Seminar in Castle Donington, an event designed to provide Power Academy scholars with a chance to meet with leading industry employers and experts.
Bob said: “The seminar offered the scholars a unique opportunity to meet industry leaders face-to-face, but more importantly it gave them a better understanding of the crucial role that they will be playing in helping to maintain and improve the power supply across central England.”
Neil Moneypenny, a first year Power Academy scholar, said: “I felt motivated by the various presentations to pursue a career as a power engineer as it was made clear that there will be many important and exciting challenges facing engineers in the near future.”
Neil, who is studying at Queens University in Belfast and is currently working at Central Networks’ Worcester Delivery Centre, added: “I have found that the summer placement complements the theoretical aspects of my university course very well.
“The Power Academy will benefit my career enormously. Already my Central Networks mentor has given me a number of objectives that will help me to achieve professional accreditation as a chartered engineer. Overall, I feel the Power Academy has given me more than I had expected.”
The Power Academy is managed by the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) on behalf of partners. Students from six universities, Southampton, Manchester, Strathclyde, Queens University in Belfast, Imperial College London and Cardiff, apply to the Academy and only a hand full are selected by each of the partner energy companies* including Central Networks.
As part of the scholarship, students receive a £2,000 bursary, money for books, the payment of university fees, mentor support and a two month placement every year of their degree.
Ends
Notes to editors:
• Central Networks is the new name for Midlands Electricity and East Midlands Electricity. The company brings power to 4.9 million customers across Central England through 133,000km of underground and overhead cables – enough to go round the Earth almost four times – and via almost 97,000 substations;
• Central Networks covers an area from the Peak District in the north to parts of Bristol in the south, and from the Welsh Borders to the Lincolnshire Coast;
• The Power Academy has been established to form an engineering scholarship fund for students that would like to study electrical engineering at the six partner universities and will offer support and finance for the duration on the university course;
• *Companies supporting the Power Academy include Scottish and Southern Energy, EDF Energy, Scottish Power, Western Power Distribution, CE Electric, United Utilities and National Grid Transco;
• Sophie Stubbles, aged 19, and James Pilgrim, aged 20, are studying at the University of Southampton;
• Graham Stewart, aged 19, Scott Murray, aged 19, Kevin Duffy, aged 21 and David Johnson, aged 31, are all studying at the University of Strathclyde;
• Alistair Mills, aged 19 and Matt Barnett, aged 20 are studying at the University of Manchester.
• Neil Moneypenny, aged 19, Stephen McIlvanna, aged 21, King Yit Law, aged 21, Robert Orr, aged 19, and Stephen Hammond, aged 19, are studying at Queens University in Belfast.
For further information and pictures contact:
Jamee Majid on 024 7618 3679
A selection of Central Networks pictures is available free of charge to the media by registering at www.newscast.co.uk and looking under Distribution.