A TRAINING company is celebrating 10 years of providing its Gas Networks Apprenticeship Pro-gramme.

By helping to create a sustainable, multi-skilled workforce, Bolton-based Develop Training Ltd has trained more than 2,000 gas network workers for leading companies, including National Grid.

The utilities industry is set to recruit more than 200,000 staff to replace a workforce that will retire by 2023.

The Employer Ownership of Skills (EOS) pilot scheme has received government investment of £33 million to create 70,000 learning opportunities to help secure the future workforce for the UK’s energy and utilities industry.

Develop Training is the the UK’s leading independent technical training provider, based on the Breightmet Industrial Estate, and the firm works with a number of utilities companies across the UK.

The company’s utilities division business director, John Kerr, said: “We are delighted to celebrate our 10th year of providing utility apprenticeships and we are proud of our record of achieving 95 per cent retention and achievement rates for our delegates.

“The Employer Ownership of Skills scheme is a great opportunity for employers to plan and implement bespoke training programmes for both apprentices and other staff.

“This will give the utilities sector renewed optimism and a much needed boost to secure the future of the utilities workforce.”

“Our sights are firmly set on the next decade helping the utility industry to plug the projected 50 per cent gap in head count and create a sustainable, multi-skilled workforce of the future.”