Heather: This is a women’s world too Greenkeeper backs Scottish Apprenticeship Week

An apprentice greenkeeper hopes more women will come to the fore in industries dominated by men as part of a special push during Scottish Apprenticeship Week.

Heather Love has worked at Barshaw Public Golf Course since 2016 when she started an apprenticeship with Renfrewshire Council.

The 21-year-old from Erskine loves the outdoors and is supporting Renfrewshire Council’s efforts to encourage more women into male dominated sectors.

Heather said: “I’ve always enjoyed working outside and wanted to be a gardener originally. When I saw this apprenticeship advertised I decided to go for it, especially as the role wasn’t seasonal but all year.

“As well as working outdoors it also sent me to college, so the apprenticeship means that I get the best of both worlds.

“There’s always plenty to do, I prune, sweep leaves and cut the greens and tees and make sure they are tidy and look after the machinery.

“I’ve also had experience on football pitches and bowling greens.

“It’s still quite a man’s world although there is another woman on another team that I don’t work with directly.

“My favourite part of the job is working outside – quiet mornings and sunrises are the best and I find it satisfying seeing a freshly cut green.”

Renfrewshire is marking Scottish Apprenticeship Week with a series of events designed to encourage young women to consider careers in traditionally male dominated sectors, as it coincides with yesterday’s International Women’s Day.

It has organised a series of Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) events for young women at various venues across the district.

Former Park Mains High pupil Heather said she hopes more young women will follow in her footsteps and break the mould.

“There are only a handful of women doing this and I hope more women will apply,” she said.

“Learning something completely new is great and I love playing a part in something much bigger and being a female in a male dominated field.

“We are built differently to men and sometimes I do have to work a bit harder to lift things for example but I’d say to any other females who are thinking about a similar career or apprenticeship to just go for it.”

Events throughout the week are taking place in West College Scotland, the Royal Alexandra Hospital, Morrison Construction, Clark Contracts and Rolls Royce Inchinnan.

Renfrewshire Council Leader Iain Nicolson said: “In line with the rest of Scotland, Renfrewshire has a significant gender gap in terms of so few young women going into the traditionally male dominated careers of construction, science, technology and engineering.

“It’s vital to open up their horizons and provide access to STEM opportunities and I’m delighted that so many will have the chance to find out about a wide range of jobs during Scottish Apprenticeship Week.” CALL FOR MORE 0903 658 2009 SEPTEMBER 23 - OCTOBER 23 CALL FOR MORE 0903 658 2010 OCTOBER 24 - NOVEMBER 22