Shining a light on rising stars work at Apprenticeship Week
Rising stars within East Ayrshire Council have seen their work highlighted during a special event.
Scottish Apprenticeship Week shone the spotlight on up- and- coming employees.
Lynsey Garrick, pictured right, a valued member of staff as receptionist in Kilmarnock’s Ingram Enterprise Centre, was one such worker.
Her Modern Apprenticeship, which began with East Ayrshire Council Business Gateway Service in June 2018, has seen the former Grange Academy pupil break down barriers.
Lynsey has Cerebral Palsy which restricts her movement and is also partially sighted but she has never let this hold her back.
Her assessor said: “Lynsey is one of the best Modern Apprentices I have worked with, not only for overcoming her disabilities but also for her determination to succeed in anything she does.
“She has a great sense of humour and is always positive.
And Lynsey added: “My department carried out a workstation assessment and supplied a large screen monitor and keyboard to help me with my work.
“The units I chose fitted perfectly into my work and my assessor was a great help to me through my qualification and fully supported me to achieve my goals.”
A champion ten pin bowler, Lynsey is a member of the Scottish Triple Crown Ten Pin Bowling team.
She is also going through training to get a guide dog to help her, a two year old Labrador/ Golden Retriever cross which will broaden her horizons and is sure to be a hit with visitors to the Ingram Enterprise Centre.
She added: “Doing my MA has greatly improved my confidence in areas such as communication and interpersonal skills.
“When I started, I was wary about answering the phones, as I did not have the confidence or belief to do so.
“Now I can carry out all the tasks in my job in an easy and positive manner.
“I’ve now completed my SVQ level 2, secured a permanent job and I’m now working towards my SVQ level 3. I’d encourage anyone to think about doing a Modern Apprenticeship.”
The Council’s Employability Service offers full support to employers and employees, helping with recruitment, training and mentoring to match suitable people to worthwhile jobs.
Councillor Jim Roberts, Cabinet Member for Economy and Infrastructure, said: “In Scottish Apprenticeship Week it’s great to be taking stock of what some of our Modern Apprentices are achieving, and it’s also very useful to get a reminder of exactly what our Employability Team can offer in terms of comprehensive, wrap around care for job seekers and employers alike.
“We’d encourage anyone looking for training, a new career, or a new employee to come and talk to our teams and find out just what we can offer. Apprenticeships are just part of the life changing service we can offer.”