AN IRVINE man has been named Hunterston B power station’s apprentice of the year.

Conor Logie received the honour at EDF Energy’s annual apprenticeship graduation ceremony in Worcestershire.

Conor, who received his award from EDF Energy’s new CEO Simone Rossi, said: “I have really enjoyed the apprenticeship programme over the past four years so I feel honoured that my hard work has been recognised.

“I can’t recommend the scheme highly enough. I have developed so many new skills since I started and I am looking forward to keeping up the hard work in my role as a fulltime technician.”

His fellow apprentice Rachel Pellegrini, from Ardrossan, won a special award for ‘Going the Extra Mile’.

They were joined by 57 other apprentices from across the business including fellow Hunterston B apprentices Ruairigh Grayston, Megan MacMaster, Ross Stevenson, Jordan Walker.

All six of the power station’s apprentices spent four years on the company’s highly-regarded Engineering Maintenance Apprenticeship Scheme.

The awards were presented by newly-appointed EDF Energy Chief Executive Simone Rossi in front of an audience of graduating apprentices and their families.

There has been a marked increase in young women taking up the apprenticeship in engineering and maintenance across the country.

In November, Hunterston B launched its search for their 2018 apprentices.

The training scheme starts with two years at the world-renowned training base at HMS Sultan near Portsmouth.

The apprentices spend the final two years at their home bases where they get on-the-job training.

The scheme is open to anyone aged 16 and above, the minimum entry is five National 5s or equivalent, including Maths, English and two of either Science, Technical or Engineering subjects.