WITNEY MP Robert Courts has met five apprentices who help to keep the lights on in his constituency.

Mr Courts met the region’s apprentices at Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks’ depot in Oxford to talk about the scheme that sees around £80,000 invested in each new recruit over their three-year training period.

The group’s discussion also focused on how they’ll be working to build and maintain the electricity infrastructure serving nearly 600,000 residential and business customers across the Ridgeway region.

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SSEN’s head of region for Ridgeway Craig Rankin said: “It was fantastic to welcome Robert Courts to meet our dedicated, and hard-working apprentices.

"SSEN is a strong supporter of the Government’s decision to adopt a net zero emissions target by 2050, and we are working on the ground to support the low-carbon technologies that will make this possible.

SSEN’s apprentices that are being trained today will have a critical role on that journey."

Mr Courts said: “It’s been fascinating to speak to some of Ridgeway’s apprentices; to hear about the variety of training they will undertake to keep the lights on for customers across the region.

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“These trainees and apprentices will form SSEN’s workforce for the future and help in their plans to lower carbon emissions in line with the Government’s net zero targets, and I welcome their contribution.”

Peter Ranger, 1st year apprentice, said: “Every day is different and it’s reassuring to know that, as well as the positive changes we’ll be making in our local community.”