Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser
College students carving out careers with top training
IAN BUNTING
Two students are carving out careers in joinery and construction as they begin their Monklands-based Modern Apprenticeship training at New College Lanarkshire.
Hollie McArthur, 17, from Coatbridge, has recently started a job as an apprentice joiner with national house builder Barratt Homes.
And John McCrone, 20, is now employed at Alltech Construction in Airdrie after completing the college’s construction pre-apprenticeship course.
Former Coatbridge High School pupil Hollie said: “I think there were around 100 applicants for the apprenticeship scheme – I’m actually really proud of myself to have got it.
“My interest in joinery started in school; I really liked woodwork and was quite good at it.
“Barratt really encourages its apprentices to build on their skills; there’s an academy in England for doing more courses and it seems like there are a lot of opportunities within the company.”
John, of Viewpark, added: “I’ve been trying to get an apprenticeship for two or three years, so it felt good to finally get one.
“I like joinery because you’re always doing different things.
“I started last month with the company and I’ve already been involved in roof work and fitting kitchens and staircases.”
Danny Shearer, the college’s assistant head of faculty for engineering and automotive, said: “I am absolutely delighted to welcome these new apprentices who have progressed from our full- time construction preapprenticeship and females into construction programmes.
“For all of our new apprentices, this is a great step towards careers in the construction industry.
“I said to the new intake of carpentry and joinery apprentices on the day that they started with us, that in the 13 years we have offered this programme in collaboration with CITB, we have never had a female joinery apprentice.
“This highlights the success of our females into construction courses, which we started in April 2018, and are now bearing fruit in terms of supporting several young women into the construction industry.
“I look forward to watching how all of our new intake of apprentices progress over the next four years, knowing that they will receive every encouragement and assistance from the excellent carpentry and joinery team to successfully complete their apprenticeship.”
Ian Hughes, Construction Industry Training Board Scotland strategic director, added: “It’s great to see new learners starting their career in construction, and particularly to welcome the first women joinery apprentices for New College Lanarkshire – a historic first.”
For more information on the range of construction courses on offer at New College Lanarkshire, visit www. nclanarkshire. ac. uk/ courses/ construction or call 0300 555 8080.