Gas emergency and pipeline service Wales & West Utilities is to recruit 25 new apprentices to work across Wales and the south west of England.

The new intake of recruits is part of the company’s commitment to investing in colleagues to make sure they have the skills, confidence and innovative thinking to help build a business that is fit to deliver for customers long into the future.

The new apprentices will support the company’s drive to continue to deliver outstanding customer service in maintaining the gas network that serves 7.5m people across Wales and the south west of England.

They will be based across the company’s operating area and the three-year apprenticeship programme will help them develop the skills to deliver a fast, efficient service that will keep customers safe and warm with a gas supply they can rely on for years to come.

This year’s recruitment comes after the company took on 22 apprentices in 2015, pursuing its aim of attracting more young people into the gas industry.

The 2016 intake will focus on the companies Build & Repair teams that maintain existing gas equipment and lay new gas supply pipes, as well as mechanical engineers and electrical and instrumentation engineers for network services teams who maintain the control systems of the gas network.

Wales & West Utilities director of human resources Sarah Hopkins said: “Designing our business to meet the challenges of the future will make sure that we can continue to keep our customers safe and warm. Recruiting the next generation of gas engineers and training them to deliver the highest levels of gas safety is a key part of this.”