Our investment in apprentices is reaping rewards with 44 training and working in the company.

During 2010-11, we took on 16 new recruits across our mechanical, electrical and ICA (Instrumental, Control and Automation) teams. The award-winning four-year programme combines on-the-job and classroom-based training.

Eight graduates completed our two-year Masters degree, Excellence in Industry, in partnership with the University of Brighton, and another seven signed up to the scheme. The programme offers degrees in project management, construction management, civil engineering, mechanical and electrical engineering and digital electronics.

We continued with our Discovery training programme to ensure we develop our staff. As part of the training, 15 employees started an Emerging Potential course, with another 12 taking part in a Realising Potential programme. Both involve classroom training, projects and coaching.

We also ran 40 in-house courses to equip our operational staff with electrical, mechanical, ICA and scientific expertise. Nearly 280 employees attended the courses as part of Project Dynamo. The new skills helped us to carry out 7,000 more tasks in-house rather than calling in external tradesmen.

We continued to run our Young Offenders programme and made two recruitments to our 10-week programme. Afterwards, both successfully applied for jobs with us.