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One of the first companies to work in offshore wind in Grimsby has selected the town as the base for its dedicated apprenticeship programme.

Seven wind turbine technician apprentices have begun their studies at Grimsby Institute, as RES expands its operations and maintenance business.

The company, which describes itself as the world’s largest independent renewable energy company, was a forerunner operating from the port, ahead of the continuous stream of construction seen over the past 15 years. Now its first º£½ÇÊÓƵ and Ireland training programme has landed.

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Simon Deacon, operations and maintenance director at RES, said: “Grimsby lies at the epicentre of offshore wind industry and with a critical mass of wind farms in the area the Grimsby Institute has developed state-of-the-art training facilities and has excellent teaching staff with direct industry experience.

“That makes it the ideal location for RES to invest in the workforce of tomorrow. I wish the apprentices the best of luck with their studies and welcome them to an industry with endless opportunities, now and in the future."

The 16 to 26-year-olds will be taught in a classroom environment and on-site by a team of lecturers with specialist backgrounds in engineering and renewables, on a three-year course working towards Level Three - Maintenance Operation Engineer Technician, setting them up for a successful career in the booming renewables industry.

The award-winning course - used by leading developer Orsted - was devised with industry in the town, and Grimsby is also a long-standing home to one of RES’s offices. Mr Deacon that the Port of Grimsby East base "will provide the apprentices with invaluable access to some of the sectors' most technical and experienced operations and maintenance specialists".