Ayrshire apprentices to take on best in Britain
Ayrshire’s young workforce showcased potential for the region as bright sparks displayed their talents at the Modern Apprenticeship Community Challenge final.
Teams from nine businesses across Ayrshire met at the Gailes Hotel during Ayrshire Business Week, where they presented their project to a panel of judges and a wider audience in a bid to win one of the four trophies up for grabs.
Overall winner was the team from S+ C Engineering, based in Kilmarnock, who designed and manufactured an interactive memory bench for residents at Dundonald Nursing Home who suffer from dementia.
The challenge, now in its 14th year, asks local apprentices to plan and carry out a project that will benefit their community.
Apprentices have six months from March until August to complete the challenge and submit a portfolio.
They are then given the opportunity to take part in a free presentation skills workshop delivered by Marjorie Calder of Ocean Blue Consulting to support their presentation to the judges at the final.
The challenge is coordinated by Ayrshire Chamber of Commerce & Industry and supported by Skills Development Scotland and DYW Ayrshire.
Following the success of the Ayrshire MACC, Skills Development Scotland are rolling the challenge out nationally and the overall winners from each category will go forward to a national final in March next year.
Val Russell, CEO of Ayrshire Chamber, said: “Wehave been privileged to be part of this initiative since it started and I think this year’s competition was one of the toughest to judge.
“All of the projects were of benefit to the community and all of the apprentices were able to articulate what they had gained from the experience both in utilising existing skills but more importantly learning new ones.
“Particular thanks to the employers who support their MAs participation in this project and we look forward to 2018.”
S+ C finance director Heather Mackenzie was thrilled with the organisation’s young stars. She said: “We are absolutely delighted our apprentices have been recognised in this way.
“Our apprentices learned so much from this project and has made a real contribution to their development as engineers.”
For more information on the challenge contact Gillian Longmuir on 01292 678666 or glongmuir@ ayrshire- chamber. org.