News

Severn Trent apprentices Serena Variah and Eleanor Bradshaw have successfully graduated from their company apprenticeship programme, despite the current coronavirus restrictions.

The apprentices, both from Derby, will now take up permanent roles in the company, helping to look after it’s eight million customers after both completing their courses under the current, unique circumstances.

Serena, 19, said: “I had my apprenticeship end point assessment during the lockdown, so I had to do an interview and presentation sat at a desk, at the end of my bed, over a video call. It wasn’t how I expected to be wowing my assessors but, either way, it all worked out in the end! 

“Now I’ve graduated, I’m really excited to be starting in a new team as an assistant project engineer. My next goal’s to get a chartered qualification and to move onwards and upwards in the company.”

Eleanor, 20, added: “The current restrictions didn’t stop me from getting a Distinction, and I can’t thank my manager enough for all the support they offered me. Despite the strange circumstances we’re currently in, I couldn’t be prouder to be part of such a great company, and to have achieved the grade I got.”

Severn Trent currently has 52 apprentices continuing to balance their day jobs with learning for their apprenticeships under the new restrictions, and all are set to complete their programmes as normal later in the year.

And applications for the next generation of apprentices have continued, with virtual assessment centres being run throughout the restriction period.

Amy Barber, New Talent Manager for Severn Trent, said: “We’re really proud of all our apprentices at the moment, as they’ve been able to carry on working, albeit adapting the way we do jobs when we’re out and about. We’re looking forward to the rest of the group graduating, while continuing to recruit for this year’s new intake.”

For more information on Severn Trent’s apprentice programme, please visit stwater.co.uk.