04/02/11
Dulas trainee Teilo calls others into Green Apprenticeships
An eco-savvy apprentice from Machynlleth is forging a new career in renewable energy, learning the cutting edge technologies that can help build a new green economy in the UK.
Teilo Jenkins is now marking ‘Apprenticeship Week’ (February 7 – 11 2011) by encouraging other young people to join the growing renewable energy sector, which is spurred on by the government’s ambitious carbon emission reduction targets.
The 22-year-old started a three year solar apprenticeship with Dulas in Machynlleth, one of the UK's oldest renewable energy providers, in June 2010. He’d previously worked in catering for four years at the town’s Centre for Alternative Technology following A-Levels in photography and art.
Teilo explained: “I’d really enjoyed my studies and catering career, but decided I wanted to do something practical with my hands. Living in the area, I’d always been aware of Dulas’ work and I thought a career in renewable energy sounded really interesting. Solar power seemed like a nice clean way of making energy and I wanted to find out more about it.”
Working towards an Electrotechnical Technology- City & Guilds 2330 certificate, Teilo combines one day a week at Newtown’s Coleg Powys with time on sites around mid and north Wales, installing a range of commercial and domestic solar projects for Dulas.
Eco-apprentice Teilo Jenkins from Machynlleth is encouraging others to take up apprenticeships in the renewable energy sector.
He continued: “The tutors and other apprentices at college are really interested in what I’m doing as it’s an up-and-coming technology. It’s only myself and another Dulas apprentice Hari working in solar but I’d recommend it to anyone looking for an interesting and stable career.
“The career prospects are really exciting and I believe the amount of solar installers in the country has more than tripled over the last year or so. We have a steady stream of work coming in at Dulas so the future looks bright. I’m really interested in the technical side of the job. It seems to make perfect sense to get our energy straight from the sun.”
The outdoors nature of the work appeals to Teilo, as does the variety of projects available to work on thanks to Dulas’ varied business. He said: “I love being out on roofs for most of the week. I mostly work on domestic jobs for people excited to be harnessing the power of the sun to provide their energy and make some money thanks to the government’s Feed-In Tariff, which pays a set amount for energy sold back to the grid. I also get the chance to work with the hydro and wind departments to learn about other renewable technologies.
“When I first started I worked on the Arbed scheme in Anglesey, where we installed photovoltaic (solar panels used to provide electricity power) systems to reduce fuel poverty amongst tenants in Tai Eryri Housing Association properties. It’s great when you can see you’ve made a real difference to people’s lives.
“The sky’s the limit with the new skills I’m learning at Dulas. It’s an ambition of mine to work with indigenous people in the third world to help them get free electricity from the sun. My dad does some work in the Amazon helping tribal people and I’m sure my new skills could come in useful out there.”
Ian Draisey, director at Dulas says the business has seen exponential growth over the last five years thanks to the trends in global renewable energy markets, resulting in a growing job market.
“The introduction of the Feed-In Tariff in April has pushed the renewable energy market into further growth. The Renewable Heat Incentive, expected later in 2011 will do the same. These financial incentives encourage people to take up renewable technologies in order to power and heat their businesses and homes.
“With this demand comes the need to create more jobs to support the sector. Apprenticeships, like the scheme Teilo is part of, will help prepare the next generation of well-trained and highly-skilled fitters and project managers to help lead the industry forward.”
