Energy network SGN and Fife College are celebrating the success of their partnership in advancing skills development during this year’s Scottish Apprenticeship Week (3 - 7 March 2025).
Since launching our collaboration in October 2022, we have made significant strides in creating a skilled workforce for the future:
- 12 apprentices recently joined our programme in Scotland, bringing to 40 the number enrolled through Fife College
- The majority join as Gas Emergency Apprentices, focused on managing gas escapes and making repairs
- 16 apprentices are on track to complete their training in April 2025
- SGN has joined the 5% Club, with over 5% of its workforce in Apprenticeship, Graduate, and Trainee programmes
We're committed to continuing our recruitment efforts, ensuring the growth of our successful apprenticeship programme.
As part of their training, Gas Emergency Apprentices undertake classroom learning and well as gaining hands-on experience alongside our frontline teams and mentoring from experienced engineers. Upon completion, apprentices will be fully qualified to work in communities across Scotland, helping to keep customers safe and warm.
Oliver Ferguson, third year SGN apprentice, said: "The SGN apprenticeship has been an incredible opportunity that has positively impacted many aspects of my life. I’m grateful to the engineers I've worked with, the lecturers at Fife College, and my managers for their support. I’m now in a great position, ready to submit my portfolio, coursework, and on-site evidence. With just a few months to go, I’ll soon be fully qualified and Gas Safe registered, ready to take on the job with confidence."
Earlier this year, SGN became a member of the 5% Club which means that over 5% of their workforce is in a earn and learn position. This highlights the company’s strong commitment to expanding its Apprenticeship, Graduate, and Trainee programmes. Since 2022, it has seen substantial growth in these initiatives and is dedicated to sustaining this momentum in the coming years.
Michael Gillies, Emerging Talent Manager at SGN, said: “Every year, I’m taken aback by the high quality of apprentices joining us to play a vital role in the success of our business, and we’re dedicated to expanding these opportunities for many more young people. We’re incredibly proud to join the 5% Club, which recognises our ongoing commitment to fostering talent through apprenticeships and training. It’s essential that we continue to invest in the next generation of workers, ensuring we create meaningful career opportunities and build a workforce that’s equipped for the future.”
Iain Hawker, Assistant Principal: Enterprise & Partnerships at Fife College, said: “Our partnership with SGN is a brilliant example of how industry and education can work together to develop the skills needed for the future. We are proud to deliver training that equips apprentices with the in-demand skills they need to excel in their careers while supporting the growth of our regional economy and strengthening the workforce for years to come.”
Our partnership with Fife College also extends to the UK’s first hydrogen training facility which will be opening later this year. Based in Fife College’s Levenmouth Campus, it will create a new net zero workforce in Fife by upskilling over 200 existing Gas Safe registered engineers to work with hydrogen gas. Engineers who receive the training will work on SGN's world-first green hydrogen trial H100 Fife, which will supply green hydrogen to several hundred homes in Levenmouth in Fife through a new hydrogen gas network, built alongside the existing natural gas network.
