Growing up in Rhyl, Health and Safety Apprentice, Cameron McAllister didn’t necessarily expect his career to take him into offshore wind. Today, he’s building a career in Health and Safety just off the North Wales coast, while gaining new qualifications, travelling internationally and developing skills for the future.
As part of our Powering Opportunities campaign, we’re celebrating the people and stories that show what renewable energy can mean for North Wales beyond the power we generate. Cameron’s journey is a great example: a local person making the most of an opportunity created by RWE and discovering that an exciting career doesn’t necessarily mean having to move away from home.
We caught up with Cameron to hear about his apprenticeship, his experiences offshore and what he would say to others considering following a similar path.
Growing up, I used to walk along the Rhyl promenade with my great-grandmother, Edith, and we'd often look out at the turbines at Gwynt y Môr, wondering what happened out there, intrigued about what was across the horizon.
To now be part of the team working on those same turbines is a genuine full-circle moment and something I'm incredibly proud of, and something I am sure she would also be proud of.
I’ve just finished the first year of my Health and Safety apprenticeship, based at Gwynt y Môr off the coast of Rhyl, which is where I grew up. Since starting, I’ve also had the opportunity to cover Rhyl Flats and North Hoyle, so I’ve been able to work across all three wind farms off the North Wales coast. It’s something that, 18 months ago, I probably never would have expected. It really highlights how quickly things in life can change.
Growing up, I initially wanted to be a teacher, and I completed a psychology degree in May 2026 while working at RWE. That’s given me transferable skills that I think I’ll be able to use in the future, particularly around projects focusing on mental health and wellbeing. I’m a big advocate for men’s mental health, so it’s been nice to have the space to push things like that.
There aren’t many opportunities in North Wales to work for big companies, so when this apprenticeship came up online, it caught my eye. Working offshore was something that interested me, it was local to home but also offered opportunities to travel. Since starting, I’ve found a real passion for Health and Safety. It’s something I really enjoy doing and a job I could see myself doing for a long time.
The apprenticeship has also opened my eyes to the opportunities that are available in North Wales. You don’t necessarily have to move away to find a great career. There are opportunities here that can get you travelling and learning and hopefully open even more doors in the future. Just a month into my role, I travelled to Hamburg for a Health and Safety meeting and the We Care Awards, which was a great opportunity to meet the wider team. I’ve also been to London, attended the Global Renewable Wind Awards and will shortly be travelling to Rødsand in Denmark through the personal choices programme.
One thing I’ve really appreciated is that, as an apprentice, you’re made to feel as valued as everyone else. Everyone speaks to you like you’re a proper employee.
My day changes a lot, which is one of the things I enjoy about it. There’s a lot of interaction with people and it’s a very personable job. At the moment, I’m covering the advisor role, which is what I’d ultimately like to be doing once my apprenticeship ends.
I’m running meetings by myself now, which is something I hadn’t done previously, and I’m also presenting to people. That’s probably the most nerve-wracking part, especially when you’re presenting back to technicians, but I think putting yourself in uncomfortable situations like that helps you learn quicker and become better at what you do.
On site, I work with engineering teams, procurement teams and contractors, such as blade repairers. A big part of my role is making sure I’m there if anyone needs anything and helping to ensure everybody is working safely.
There have been quite a few. RWE organises a ‘We Care’ day, bringing everyone together offsite for discussions around Health and Safety as well as activities. I helped to organise the day for Gwynt y Môr, which included a LEGO building activity and a high ropes course. I also delivered my own presentation highlighting hand injuries.
I really enjoy anything community-based too. We recently took part in a beach litter pick along the North Wales promenade, and I’ve also visited a school to give a talk on my own. I really enjoyed that because the children seemed genuinely interested, probably even more interested than I expected from a group of eight-year-olds!
It means a lot that I’m trusted as an apprentice to manage my own timetable and arrange activities like school visits. Those visits are particularly important to me because I want young people to know there are opportunities to stay in Rhyl. People who are excelling at school can still live in Rhyl their whole life and have amazing opportunities. It’s a lovely place to live.
I really enjoy working with the team because it’s very tight-knit. Working in offshore wind is really cool as well. It’s very different and isn’t just like working on a construction site.
I also really value the opportunities to travel and experience different places. Being able to visit somewhere like Germany and travel to different cities is something I’m really excited about. That’s one thing RWE is really good at and an opportunity you wouldn’t necessarily get everywhere.
Gwynt y Môr was built when I was around 10, so I can’t really remember a time without it. I know that around £800,000 a year is put back into the community, and that’s something I’m quite proud of.
Getting to work for a company that is reinvesting back into the community means a lot to me. Knowing that you work for a company that’s giving back to the community you’re from and care about is really nice.
Honestly, I’d say just go for it and apply. I’m always sending apprenticeship opportunities to my family, including my younger cousins and my little brother, because I know how good an experience it can be.
It’s an amazing place to work and incredibly safe, which I think more people need to be aware of. Everyone I work with, from the management team to the other advisers, is happy to help. I also really like that there’s an emphasis on promoting people from within and giving people opportunities and experiences to develop.