June 17, 2026 - 219 views
Family, friends, college staff and colleagues from RWE travelled from across the UK to Rhyl to celebrate the achievements of 27 Apprentice Offshore Wind Turbine Technicians as they completed the first major stage of their training journey.
The award ceremony, held at Coleg Llandrillo, marked 14 years of collaboration between the college and renewable energy company RWE in training offshore wind turbine technicians for the UK’s growing green energy sector.
The apprentices, part of the 2024-26 cohort, have spent the last two years undertaking full-time training at the college’s specialist Wind Turbine Training Centre on the Rhyl campus. Their achievements were celebrated by family members and supporters from across Britain, with one guest even travelling from Toulouse in France to attend.
During the event, Apprentice of the Year Jessica Wall reflected on her experience.
“If I had to sum up the last two years in one word, it would have to be development,” she said. “Living away from home, support from the college and pushing myself into a subject I had no prior experience in has really felt like a period of growth unlike any other.”
Jessica will now move into the industry phase of her apprenticeship at RWE’s Humber Gateway Offshore Wind Farm.
The programme equips apprentices with the technical knowledge, practical skills and professional behaviours needed to maintain and service offshore wind turbines, helping meet the growing demand for a skilled workforce to support the UK’s transition to renewable energy.
Coleg Llandrillo Principal Paul Flanagan praised the apprentices’ commitment and highlighted the wider impact of the long-standing partnership.
“Today is all about recognising the commitment, hard work, and achievements of you all – 27 fantastic RWE apprentices,” he said. “Today is about pride. Pride in what you, the apprentices, have achieved; pride in the teaching and support teams; pride in the partnership with RWE; and pride in what this centre signifies: a place where world-class energy training takes place, here in Rhyl.”
The partnership’s benefits extend beyond education and employment opportunities. RWE is also a major supporter of community projects across North Wales through the Gwynt-y-Môr Community Fund, linked to the Gwynt-y-Môr Offshore Wind Farm located in the Irish Sea off the North Wales coast.
Over the lifetime of the wind farm, the Gwynt-y-Môr Community Fund is expected to invest more than £19 million into communities across parts of the North Wales coast. The fund supports projects focused on building strong and sustainable communities, boosting economic growth and reducing poverty and inequality.
Apprenticeship Lead and Wind Turbine Lecturer Phil Hughes said: “It’s great to see the apprentices celebrating their time at college with such positivity. Their words of thanks and appreciation for the teaching team are the most rewarding part of the job.”
RWE Apprenticeship Manager Luke Skeffington added: “A world-leading apprenticeship has been achieved in Rhyl, benefitting the company and wider community.
“The apprenticeship programme develops professional skills in addition to academic qualifications and has developed a UK-wide team of RWE technicians. The team spirit was clear to see through the demonstration of camaraderie and friendship on this day of celebration.”
The success of the programme has also helped inspire learners to compete at the highest level of vocational skills competitions. Among them is third-year RWE apprentice Madeleine Warburton, who now works on the Sofia Wind Farm in Grimsby and will represent the UK at the WorldSkills competition in Shanghai later this year.
Coleg Llandrillo has also expanded its renewable energy training provision with the launch of a new RWE-Nordex sponsored course, further strengthening opportunities for learners and supporting the future workforce needed by the renewable energy industry.
As offshore wind continues to play a growing role in the UK’s energy future, the partnership between Coleg Llandrillo and RWE is helping ensure that North Wales remains at the forefront of developing the skills, talent and community benefits that come with the transition to cleaner energy.
