A change of direction works

Kelsey explains benefits of becoming an apprentice

GROWING up with a love of design, Kelsey Pexton never thought she would end up with a career in the automotive industry.

Now, in her third year as a spray painting apprentice at Arnold Clark, the 20-year-old can’t imagine doing any other job.

A week’s work experience was all it took for Kelsey, from Clydebank, to change her career plans – and convince the motor giants to sign up the promising youngster for their apprenticeship programme.

She said: “I had actually planned on doing product design engineering at university or college and ended up doing something completely different.

“I’d always enjoyed designing things but I realised it wasn’t for me.

“My friends and my mum and dad thought it was a bit strange when I first told them about the apprenticeship.

“My mum and dad had me down as a designer, rather than a spray painter, but sometimes your perspective changes and you want to do something else.

“GTG, who train the apprentices, were doing a careers fair that my school was involved in and I got speaking to their apprentice recruitment manager, Suzanne Sherry.

“She arranged for me to do some work experience with the branch where I work now, in Kilbirnie Street, Glasgow.

“I did a week in total – twoand-a-half days’ painting and two-and-a-half days’ panel beating.

“Afterwards, I was asked what I preferred and I said the painting. A few weeks later, I was asked to come back for a few days just doing painting and then I was told they wanted to offer me the apprenticeship.”

A Modern Apprenticeship is a way for young people to earn a wage, gain practical experience and work towards an industry-recognised qualification all at the same time.

And it was this hands-on approach that appealed most to Kelsey.

She said: “We work on a rota system so one week we could be prepping the car for paint and polish, then it could be a week of continuous painting.

“I am working towards an SVQ Level 3 qualification and achieving this while doing a job I love is just amazing!

“I’m someone who learns more by actually doing stuff and that’s what drew me to the apprenticeship – I’m learning and working at the same time.”

Kelsey is now helping to spread the word about the benefits of being an apprentice and has met with First Minister Nicola Sturgeon and Jamie Hepburn MSP.

She’s also appeared onTV and been part of a photographic campaign for Skills Development Scotland supporting Scottish Apprenticeship Week.

She added: “The apprenticeship has given me loads of confidence and it’s a good environment to work in.

“I would say ‘go for it’ to anyone thinking about an apprenticeship with Arnold Clark.”