A large number of new employees have joined an electricity company.

Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN), the electricity distribution network operator for central southern England, recently welcomed 44 new apprentices, trainee engineers, arborists, and digital learners at its Thatcham training centre.

This is part of a rapid expansion of SSEN's workforce, in line with a significant investment in the region's electricity distribution network.

Last year, SSEN Distribution invested more than half a billion pounds into the networks in its two licence areas, a 20 per cent increase from the previous year, with expectations of continued growth.

The new starts will be joined later this month by several graduates, who will also contribute to SSEN's ambitious delivery plans.

Eliane Algaard, SSEN's director of operations for central southern England, said: "It's a great moment for us to welcome this latest intake of apprentices and trainees through the doors of our training school.

"They’ll be following in the footsteps of many of our valued colleagues who took the same path in their career some years ago and have gone on to become the people who shape our organisation."

The number of craft apprentices and trainee engineers has seen significant growth over the past few years, with 33 apprentices joining last year and a total of 48 trainee engineers now in work.

SSEN's recruitment strategy focuses on upskilling existing colleagues to create opportunities for new entrants, thus growing the careers of the existing workforce while creating jobs for apprentices and adult learners in the communities SSEN serves.