Valda Energy welcomes new cohort of apprentices

Valda Energy, a leading business energy supplier based in Bicester, has recruited five new apprentices who have taken up roles across commercial, metering, billing and customer services.  

The company’s apprenticeship scheme, which is now in its second year, gives young adults the opportunity to ‘learn while they earn’, with an annual starting salary of £22,000 whilst studying for a nationally recognised qualification that will improve their overall career prospects.  

Participants are offered a permanent role immediately after they complete their study programme, allowing them to utilise their newly developed skills within the workplace. 

Alongside business specific learning, apprentices at Valda are also provided with life skills lessons, covering health, nutrition and banking, which contribute to their overall well-being and financial literacy. 

Isaac McKinnon joined Valda as an apprentice in 2023 and has now taken up a permanent role within the company. He comments: “This apprenticeship scheme opened so many doors for me. The chance to earn a living whilst studying meant that I didn’t have to sacrifice my financial freedom for my education – something I would have done had I gone to University. 

“The team at Valda Energy have been incredibly supportive and, thanks to the scheme, I’m now in a specialist role in the collections team. At just 18 years old, I’ve taken steps in my career that I didn’t know would be possible and look forward to many more years in the business.” 

Tom East, Learning and Development Manager at Valda Energy, added: “Valda was founded in 2019 and supplies over 40,000 businesses nationwide. We’re incredibly proud that over 10% of our staff joined us as an apprentice and look forward to increasing that number in years to come. 

"As a business, it’s incredibly important to us to pay back to our local community and there’s no better way to do that than by offering employment opportunities for the next generation. I wish our new apprentices the best of luck and look forward to watching their careers go from strength to strength.”