HRH The Duke of York meets Met Office apprentices
HRH The Duke of York met with some of the current Met Office apprentices on Monday (18 February), while visiting Exeter to hold a Pitch@Palace On Tour event, an initiative founded by The Duke in 2014.
The Met Office’s apprenticeship programmes are run with training from a number of providers including Exeter College and the University of Exeter, and are aimed at developing the next generation of data engineers, scientists and technology experts, as well as other business skills needed in the Met Office and industry as a whole.
Liz Hourahine is a Data Analyst apprentice with Exeter College, while Jennifer Platt, Beth Harper and John Gill are pursuing degree apprenticeships in Digital and Technology solutions in partnership with the University of Exeter.
The apprenticeship schemes are just part of the range of education and career development opportunities available at the Met Office, which also includes industrial placements and doctoral study support.
Met Office Chief Executive, Prof. Penny Endersby, also guided HRH around some of the key operational areas of the Met Office, showing where the colossal amounts of data needed for world-leading weather forecasting are processed and turned into authoritative weather guidance for the UK and around the globe.
Prof. Endersby said: “We’re delighted to be welcoming His Royal Highness to the Met Office. The Duke is a proud advocate of the UK’s science and technology sectors, and I’m very pleased that some of our apprentices are able to share how our training schemes have developed both their careers in data and technology and the Met Office’s world-class research and forecasting capabilities.”
The Duke of York founded Pitch@Palace in 2014 to provide a platform to amplify and accelerate the work of entrepreneurs. Pitch@Palace guides, helps and connects entrepreneurs and early-stage businesses with potential supporters, including CEOs, Influencers, Angels, Mentors and Business Partners.
The Met Office currently has 13 apprentices in observations, technology, procurement, legal and HR.
For more info on the government’s apprenticeships programme see the ‘Fire it Up’ initiative at www.apprenticeships.gov.uk
