Jason Buddle has been selected from 640 applicants to join an on-the-job training scheme with UK Power Networks.

Mr Buddle, 23, of Barton Road, Dover, is one of 30 to get picked.

He said: “I joined the Army after I dropped out of sixth form and was in bomb disposal with the Royal Engineers. I served in Afghanistan in 2012 after training in Jordan.

“I trained as an electrician with the Royal Engineers so have had an interest in this line of work for some time. I got to realise that being in bomb disposal is a constant gamble.”

Jason will be a part of the company for two years, where he will learn electrician’s skills.
He will have to climb electricity poles, fix and connect power cables and kit out electricity substations.

He said: “I’ve found UK Power Networks to be a really good company and there are similarities with the army such as structure, rankings and knowing that we must treat safety as a top priority.

“I’d like to see myself progress from my current role and aim at doing a degree in engineering. I look back now and realise that I should have completed my A-levels.

“I felt like a change while I was still young because I was out of touch with the electrical engineering side of things an apprenticeship would ease me back in.”

Patrick Clarke, who is director of network operations at UK Power Networks, began his career as an apprentice.

He said: “There couldn’t be a more exciting time to join the electricity industry, with new technology bringing faster changes in the next 10 years than ever before.

“We look for people with a great attitude, keen to serve their communities and critically safety-conscious.

“The average age profile of our workforce is now 50 plus so this is an excellent time for young people with new ideas to make their mark.”