Leading national water supplier, Anglian Water Business, has taken on another Modern Apprentice for its Edinburgh-office.

Jamie Palmer (image attached), aged 19 and from Edinburgh, joins the company to undertake an 18-month Modern Apprenticeship, working in the company’s customer support team where he is liaising with customers.

Jamie joins Owen Forrest, who joined the company as a Modern Apprentice in August, training as a mechanical engineer.

Earlier this year Anglian Water Business took over the contract for providing water billing services to Scotland’s public sector and made a commitment to apprenticeships in delivering the contract.

It also provides water billing services to some of Scotland’s biggest businesses, saving them water and money. Key contracts include branches of ASDA; Betfred and Starwood Hotels, who run the Sheraton Grand Hotel and Spa in Edinburgh and Greene King, who run Scotland’s Belhaven pub chain.

In July Anglian Water Business signed a ground-breaking national water supply contract with Malmaison and Hotel du Vin.

Jamie will split his time between gaining practical experience based at the company’s Edinburgh office and completing his studies through Fife College.

Upon completion of the 18-month Modern Apprenticeship he will work full time with the company, strengthening its customer-service links with its customers.

Modern Apprenticeships help employers to develop their workforce by training new staff, and upskilling existing employees. For individuals, a Modern Apprenticeship is a job which lets them earn a wage and gain an industry-recognised qualification.

In addition to providing a number of Modern Apprenticeships, Anglian Water Business is an Accredited Living Wage employer and has signed up to the Scottish Business Pledge, committing to a number of fair work practices, bringing jobs and training to Scotland.

Commenting on his joining Anglian Water Business, Jamie said: “I am really looking forward to working with Anglian Water Business. This is great opportunity and seeing their strong commitment to delivering apprenticeships I am delighted to be joining such a great team.”

Skills Development Scotland Relationship Account Executive Vicki MacLean has been working with Anglian Water Business for the last few months, offering recruitment advice, training information and funding support. She said: “It is always great to see the commitment of a company like Anglian Water Business being matched by the enthusiasm of an apprentice like Jamie and knowing that there will be real benefits to both of them.”

Anglian Water Business Managing Director, Bob Wilson, said: “We have a strong commitment to delivering our apprenticeship programme and finding and nurturing talented young people. Jamie will play a key role over the course of the delivery of the contract, working with clients through our customer support team, and we’re really excited to have him on board.”