Jack Matthews has joined UK Power Networks as an apprentice

A WISBECH teenager is to follow his dad into the electricity trade after landing a job as an apprentice at the firm his father works for.

Jack Matthews has joined UK Power Networks as an apprentice

Like his dad 26 years before, Jack Matthews is to become a trainee linesman at UK Power Networks’ depot in King’s Lynn.

Over the next three years the 18-year-old, of Outwell Road, will prepare to join a skilled team of field staff who keep a quarter of the country’s electricity networks running.

“Dad encouraged me go for this apprenticeship because he knows what a good, long-term career it is,” Jack said.

“Of course it means I already know about the job and the lifestyle – being on call at awkward times of the day and night, every day of the year, has been part of my upbringing so I can take it in my stride.”

Jack, who is also a DJ and jet ski instructor, joins the scheme after completing a sound engineering and audio production course after leaving school.

UK Power Networks restarted its apprenticeship scheme in 1996 to address a shortage of electrical craftsmen joining the industry.

It includes a mixture of formal training and on-the-job experience where they can put their skills into practice.

At the end of their programme, apprentices qualify with a Qualification and Credit Framework (QCF) Diploma in Electrical Power Engineering.

“It is vital we employ the right people with the right skills,” UK Power Networks’ chief executive Basil Scarsella said.

“Our apprenticeship scheme is a huge success and ensures we can continue to provide the right service for our customers – both now and in the future.”

Anybody who is interested in joining the apprenticeship scheme should call UK Power Networks on 020 7397 7690.