Local employer launches search for apprentices

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Staffords largest employer, energy and rail infrastructure company, Alstom, is launching a search to find its engineers of the future. Alstom currently has vacancies for 20 apprentices within its Grid and Power businesses in Stafford as part of the September 2011 intake for the Alstom Apprenticeship Academy. The four-year programme will see successful applicants progress through a formalised apprenticeship scheme, offering a wealth of career opportunities in an exciting and developing industry.

Helena Austin, HR Director, Alstom UK, explains: Through the Alstom Apprenticeship Academy, we are playing our part in addressing todays issues around youth unemployment in the UK.

Apprenticeship schemes provide young people with an alternative career path whilst allowing companies to shape the skills required to address their specific business needs.

David Kirby, Learning and Development Manager, Alstom Grid, says, The Alstom Apprenticeship Academy aims to invest in new local talent giving apprentices the tools they need for an exciting and varied career in engineering. Working with the most talented professionals, our apprentices receive solid on-the-job training and ongoing personal and professional development.

We are looking for practical people inspired by science, design and technology and with a thirst for learning well provide the rest.

This 2011 intake to the Academy will be Alstoms highest to date and will bring the number of engineering apprentices to more than 130 across its UK operations.

Young Enterprise is the UKs leading enterprise education charity working with young people, business volunteers and educators. Emily Ensor is Programme Manager for the West Midlands and works closely with companies such as Alstom to inspire the next generation of enterprising young people.

She comments: Alstom is a fantastic supporter in the local area aiming to bridge the gap between education and the workplace through sponsorship, apprenticeships, work placement and work experience opportunities. Alstoms Apprenticeship Academy offers an exciting route into the world of engineering and a long and fulfilling career for the young people wanting to take up the opportunity.

For more information and an application form, call 01785 272445, email hruk.recruitment@alstom.com or visit the website link www.alstom.com/uk/careers/apprenticeship

About Alstom

Alstom is a global leader in the world of power generation, power transmission and rail infrastructure and sets the benchmark for innovative and environmentally friendly technologies. Alstom builds the fastest train and the highest capacity automated metro in the world, provides turnkey integrated power plant solutions and associated services for a wide variety of energy sources, including hydro, nuclear, gas, coal and wind,and it offers a wide range of solutions for power transmission, with a focus on smart grids. The Group employs 96,500 people in more than 70 countries, and had sales of over 20.9 billion in 2010/11.

Alstom is a substantial employer across the Midlands, with approximately 5000 of its 6500 UK employees working out of Midlands-based locations, including Stafford, Rugby, Ashby-de-la-Zouch and Wolverhampton. Alstoms UK presence can be traced back to 1889 with the formation of the General Electric Company Ltd, the merger of GEC and Compagnie D'Electricitie (CGE) in 1989 - to become GEC Alsthom - and the eventual formation as Alstom in 1998. Today Alstom has more than 30 key locations across the country and employs over 6,500 people.

Key reference projects include the supply and maintenance of Alstom's Pendolino high speed trains for Angel Trains (operated by Virgin Trains), supply and maintenance of the fleets of London Underground trains on the Northern and Jubilee lines, the design, engineering and construction of 75% of the UK's new generation of gas fired power stations and lead partner for National Grid's South East Electricity Alliance, which includes London and the surrounding area in what is the most densely populated and economically important areas of the UK.

Press Contacts

Clare Clark (Communications Manager , Alstom UK) - Tel : 07875 880150

clare.clark@chq.alstom.com

Rachel Worthing (Golley Slater PR, Birmingham) Tel; 0121 384 9706

rworthing@golleyslater.co.uk

Website www.alstom.com/uk