A budding renewable energy engineer has been selected to study for NVQs and gain valuable workplace training as the new apprentice at a Somerset-based renewable technology business.

Damien Gibbons, from Cheltenham, has been picked to be the first apprentice at Brinscombe-based Renewables First, where he will work and train for four years. Along the way he will work for a Level 3 BTEC in engineering and an NVQ in Mechanical Manufacturing.

Damien told the Stroud Life publication that the opportunity was almost too good to be true and was exactly what he had been looking for to start his career.

“I am very interested in renewable energy sources, so when this job came up I applied straight away,” he told the publication. “I have really enjoyed my apprenticeship so far and feel this is an important sector to be a part of.”

Renewables First’s Phil Davis told the Stroud Life publication that Damien seems to be the ideal candidate for what they are after and that they were delighted with the support they had received from Stroud District Council in helping to set up the apprenticeship. He added that the business advantages of the apprenticeship were very clear to them and they had already been able to give Damien some valuable experiences on the job.

Renewables First offers feasibility, design, consenting and installation expertise for hydropower and wind power projects throughout the UK, working with some of the UK’s biggest corporations, including Sainsbury’s, Carillion and GlaxoSmithKline.