Sirius Minerals hunts for 50 new apprentices for North Yorkshire mine

The company is asking people to apply now so it can select the first 10 apprentices who will start work in September 2019.

With production at the Woodsmith Mine, which is situated underneath the North York Moors National Park, due to start in 2021, the programme will add to the company’s growing local workforce which is expected to reach 1,000 jobs at full production.

Gareth Edmunds, external affairs director at Sirius Minerals, said: “We’re delighted to be announcing this programme and delivering on our commitments to provide 50 apprenticeships in this phase.

“This builds on the extensive engagement we already do with schools and colleges to help encourage young people into careers focused on science, technology, engineering or maths.”

The four-year apprenticeship to train advanced engineering technicians will be run in partnership with Tees Valley training provider, the TTE Technical Training Group.

It will focus on developing a sound knowledge of electrical, mechanical and instrumentation engineering principles and putting these into practice.

The first two years will be delivered both at the Sirius Woodsmith Mine site offices in Whitby, and the TTE facility in Middlesbrough. Transport will be provided to both sites. Apprentices will continue the remaining two years of their training with Sirius Minerals in preparation for long term engineering technician roles in installation and maintenance.

Informal information sessions will be held in Scarborough, Whitby and Middlesbrough over the coming weeks, where potential applicants will have the opportunity to find out more about the programme and speak to representatives from Sirius and TTE.

Matt Parsons, external affairs general manager at Sirius, said: “We’re excited to be working with an industry-leading training group able to provide opportunities to people across the area.

“If you’re a bright and ambitious team player with a strong work ethic, and good communication and problem-solving skills, we want to hear from you.”

TTE Technical Training Group is the UK’s leading provider of technical training to the oil and gas, process, manufacturing and engineering sectors, and offers training in its state of the art engineering training facility in Middlesbrough.

Steve Grant, CEO at TTE said: “We are delighted to expand our apprenticeship offer and look forward to working in partnership with Sirius Minerals on such a significant project that will create much-needed jobs in the region.”

The first two events will take place between 6pm and 7.30pm in Scarborough on Wednesday December 5 at Sirius Minerals, Resolution House, Lake View, Eastfield, YO11 3ZB, and in Whitby on Monday December 10 in the Northern Lights Suite, Whitby Pavilion, West Cliff, YO21 3EN.

A further session will be held in Middlesbrough from 6pm to 7.30m on Thursday December 13 at TTE, Edison House, Middlesbrough Road East, South Bank, TS6 6TZ.

The programme is open for applications until April 2019, when successful candidates will be invited for a skills assessment and interview.

More details of the scheme and how to apply are available on the Sirius Minerals website: www.siriusminerals.com/apprenticeships.

The project will create over 2,500 direct and indirect jobs.