A young engineer
and a fish and chip shop are among the finalists in Scotland’s Modern
Apprenticeship Awards.
Steen Durno and the
Fochabers Fish Bar are hoping for success in the Awards, which are organised by
Skills Development Scotland (SDS).
Former Buckie High
School pupil Steen works for Mark Garrick Tractors in Elgin, where his employer
says he is the best apprentice he has ever had. The 19-year-old is a finalist
in the Level 3 category of the Awards.
Steen has always
helped his Dad and brother with mechanical jobs around their house and farm and
wanted a hands-on job. He loves the variety of his work which can involve
working on today’s state-of-the-art tractors or rebuilding engines on early
1970s models.
Hoping for a win in
the Micro Employer category, for workplaces with less than 10 employees, is the
team at Fochabers Fish Bar.
Former RAF aircraft
engineer Darren Boothroyd has used Modern Apprenticeships to help transform his
local chippie into a thriving business.
Customer service is
the main focus at the fish bar which now has three members of staff with Level
3 and Level 2 qualifications, with another on her way to completing a Level 2
apprenticeship.
Darren said: "For
our staff, having a Modern Apprenticeship shows that they have something to
contribute and gives them the confidence of having a national qualification and
a high degree of pride in what they do.”
The Awards, which
take place on Wednesday 18 November, in Edinburgh’s Assembly Rooms have been
partnered by CGI, CITB, SQA, the City of Edinburgh Council, Diageo, Eastern
Exhibition and Display and GTG Training.
SDS’s Chief
Executive Damien Yeates said: "Scotland’s Modern Apprenticeship Awards
recognise the commitment to training show by employers and employees across the
country. It’s this continued commitment that will see the number of Modern
Apprenticeship places increase each year from 25,000 to 30,000 by 2020.”
He added: "Steen
and Fochabers Fish Bar are great examples of the benefits Modern
Apprenticeships bring to individuals, organisations, businesses and the wider
economy. All the finalists are to be congratulated for their achievements so
far. The judges are certainly going to have a difficult task picking the
winners.”
November will also
see Modern Apprentices visit secondary schools across the country as part of
SDS’s drive to encourage more young people to consider apprenticeships as a
career path.
Find out more about
Modern Apprenticeships and search for job vacancies at www.apprenticeships.scot.
