FOUR East Lothian young adults have kicked off their careers with EDF Energy after starting their apprenticeships at Torness Power Station.

Louissa Robertson, 18, from Macmerry; Niall Harding, 17, from Dunbar; Lewis Martin, 16, from Dunbar; and John Bunney, 20, from North Berwick, started their careers this summer alongside four other apprentices from across the country.

The eight new starts joined the company’s 53 other apprentices at a teambuilding week in the Lake District recently.

The week was the culmination of a gruelling recruitment process, which started last autumn.

Hundreds of applications came in for the apprentice positions and, after numerous tests and interviews, the numbers were whittled down.

Dominic Blythe, Torness’s apprentice training co-ordinator, stressed it was a hard job.

“The quality of applications was very high and so that means the quality of our apprentices will also be very high,” he said.

After the decision was made, the apprentices and their families were taken to see HMS Sultan – the Portsmouth-based training facility where they will spend their first two years.

Dominic added: “Many of our apprentices come from the local schools and it’s important for us to ensure the parents are comfortable with the set-up at HMS Sultan and so we take them to see the site firsthand.” Away from the classroom, the apprentices will enjoy sports and leisure facilities under the watchful eye of the centre’s own team.

EDF Energy’s apprentices also undertake an extensive life skills package along with some cultural visits to European cities.

Dominic said: “The life skills part of the scheme is very important to us and after that initial two years away we end up with some very mature individuals.” After two years, the apprentices return to Hunterston B Power Station to complete their apprenticeship on site, before returning to Torness.

Applications for the apprentice programme will open again next month and can be made through www.edfenergy.com/careers