A WIND turbine electrician from Ayr has picked up a top Renewbles Award.

John Freeburn left the army seven years ago to train as an electrician before becoming a wind turbine technician.

It was there that John first heard about training that would enable him to work on wind turbines and eventually John took up a position with leading wind turbine installation contractor, Windhoist.

Training and working at Windhoist has enabled John to develop a career as a wind turbine technician, and his hard work was recently recognised at the Scottish Renewables Young Professionals Green Energy Awards 2018, where he picked up the award, sponsored by the Centre for Work Based Learning.

The Young Professionals Green Energy Awards recognises those who have achieved beyond all expectations, who are pioneering new ideas and have the drive and ambition to change the renewable energy industry for the better.

Having only started with Windhoist in June 2017, John has proved a confident and capable wind turbine technician in a short space of time.

Commenting on his position and award win, John said: “The opportunities I’ve been given with my job are more than I could have dreamed of.

“I work with a great crew, often away from home seeing new parts of Scotland, the UK and abroad, in an industry that’s keen to develop its workforce and give people, whatever their background, age or sex, great opportunities.

“I trained with people from a variety of backgrounds and a range of ages, most of whom had never worked on turbines before. Now we’re all working together building turbines and the sense of achievement is incredible.

“I love my job and to win this award at the Young Professionals Green Energy Awards makes it even more rewarding.”