British Gas Energy Academy Visit

Local MP congratulates British Gas’ Apprentice of the Year

British Gas has crowned Stacey Tear from Newham in London as Apprentice of the Year at its Energy Academy in Dartford. 

She was congratulated on her achievement by Dartford MP, Gareth Johnson, who today visited the Academy to see the pioneering work in training and skills that British Gas does in Dartford. 

Twenty-seven-year-old Stacey was chosen as this year’s winning apprentice due to her hard work and professional approach during her 18 month apprenticeship.  Stacey was also part of a team of engineers who went to helped build classrooms at a school for underprivileged children in India.  

Last year over 200 apprentices were trained at the Dartford Academy.  During his visit Mr Johnson met some of the apprentices and was impressed by the range of skills and training offered at the Academy, particularly new and green technologies such as smart meters and solar panels. 

Mr Johnson said: “It was a privilege to meet Stacey and it makes me very proud of what is being done here in my constituency.  The training and skills that I saw today here in the Academy are the things that will see the private sector help our economy grow.  I am particularly impressed by the training in new technologies such as smart meters, which will help put customers in control of their energy bills, and save energy and money.  It is clear that Dartford will be at the heart of this energy revolution.”

John Timoney, manager of the British Gas Energy Academy in Dartford, said: “The range of training we provide here at the Dartford Academy builds on our reputation as a centre of excellence for training British Gas engineers.  Stacey has worked hard to be the Apprentice of the Year and she is an excellent role model.  I would like to congratulate her on this great achievement, which is a testament to her high standard of work and positive attitude during her apprenticeship.  She is a fantastic asset to British Gas.”

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Notes to editors

Key facts

·         The British Gas Energy Academy was originally formed in 2003 and consists of six training sites across the country: Leicester, Hamilton, Leeds, Thatcham, Dartford and Tredegar

·         British Gas invests £25 million per year in the development and training of its engineers

·         Dartford Energy Academy was opened on 3 October 2006 by the Secretary of State for Education & Skills, Alan Johnson MP

·         Dartford Energy Academy is 30,000sq ft and has the capacity to accommodate 130 apprentices at any one time, with an average of approximately 170 trainees on program per year.

·         Dartford Energy Academy delivers training to apprentices, smart energy experts and also offers continual professional development for British Gas engineers

·         Dartford Energy Academy largely supports the recruitment, induction and training of engineers and trainees who work in London & the South East

·         British Gas is the largest single trainer and employer of domestic gas engineers in Britain and has trained more than 8,500 apprentices since 2003.  British Gas invests £23,000 in the training of each engineer apprentice

·         All British Gas training sites were awarded a Grade 1 rating in the last Ofsted Report – positioning the Academy as one of the best training providers in Britain

·         All British Gas training sites include a “green” training area where apprentices can learn to install smart meters, insulation and the low-carbon technologies of the future, including solar panels and biomass boilers

·         More than half of British Gas Academy recruits are trained in green jobs now – this includes insulation fitters, solar panel installers, energy experts and smart meter installers