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IN THEIR OWN WORDS

Students and trainers talk
about their experiences

“THE EXPERIENCE I HAVE had so
far is very positive and I plan to fully
take advantage of this opportunity.
The kind of work being done by
CISBOT for Cadent and SGN is
inspiring me to picture how I would LEARNING ON THE JOB
work best within ULC Robotics
and help the company achieve its CISBOT Technician, ULC Robotics.
goals.” – Adam Fishburn, Student, “I’m really enjoying working with
Middlesbrough College. the next generation of engineers
“It’s encouraging to work for and passing on my own experience
a company that understands the to help them transition into the
potential of military veterans such world of robotics. The students are
as myself, and the transferable actively demonstrating a lot of the
skills that we can bring to the table. engineering skills required for this
Being part of a team that values kind of work, and it’s truly impressive
my experience and provides many to see the passion that they have for
opportunities to advance makes the job.” - Matthew Dovaston, CISBOT
this position so unique.” – Glen Hill, Technician, ULC Robotics.

transition UK ex-military personnel to At ULC Robotics, 31 per cent of the UK
careers in this space. Service leavers team were formerly in the armed forces.
bring years of training and experience In addition to supporting recruitment
working in challenging environments efforts through the hiring of ex-military
with an increased awareness of health personnel, ULC Robotics is also making a
and safety awareness. concentrated effort to enlist apprentices
“Since we started working with ULC from Middlesbrough College.
Robotics, they have been extremely
proactive and exhibited at our recent Because the utility sector is
CTP Employment Fair, in Chelmsford. among the most productive
They were truly amazed at the quality of
service leavers they met,” says Suzanne in the UK, any decline in
Deller, CTP Employer Relationship productivity and profitability
CAREERS IN ROBOTICS AWAIT THESE YOUNG APPRENTICES Manager. “They have placed two can pose a risk to the economy.
service leavers into the company from To prevent such an occurrence,
the event alone and we are looking
and technical skills as a roadblock for to develop the relationship and help networks and stakeholders
finding qualified candidates. those leaving the armed forces into are encouraging innovation
In 2018, ULC Robotics’ UK business employment at ULC.” through the use of emerging
saw an 80 per cent growth in employees Cadent, which is Britain’s largest gas
and in 2019 the growth rate is already at distribution network, is committed to technologies, such as robotics
110 per cent. serving all its communities, including
“Our CISBOT operations continue to veterans and reservists. The company In collaboration with Cadent and
expand rapidly to support work at both has signed the Armed Forces Covenant SGN, ULC Robotics has constructed
Cadent and SGN,” says Sam Wilson, and is proud to be an ‘armed forces- an apprenticeship programme with
Director of UK Operations at ULC friendly employer,’ employing veterans Middlesbrough College, an academic
Robotics. “How exactly do you hire a and reservists across the business. facility whose focus is to equip students
robot operator? What skills do you look Fellow gas distribution network SGN, with the skills and training necessary
for to ensure candidates successfully which has operations in England, the for a successful career. The goal of the
integrate into daily operations? These whole of Scotland and now in Northern apprenticeship programme is to marry
are questions we had to answer to Ireland, takes great pride in serving a academic learning with real-world field
continue our growth.” wide range of communities across some experience to help students develop a
Organisations like the Career very different territories. In 2018, it was strong engineering skillset.
Transition Partnership (CTP) partner with awarded the gold award for support to Launched in June 2019, the multi-
employers in the oil and gas, renewable the armed forces in the UK’s Defense partner programme is helping to
energy and offshore energy markets to Employer Recognition Scheme. attract a variety of talent, ultimately

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