Factory worker is up for national award

An Uddingston apprentice has been named as a finalist in this year’s Scottish Apprenticeship Awards, delivered by Skills Development Scotland (SDS).

Now in its 18th year, the Scottish Apprenticeship Awards bring together apprentices, employers and learning providers to celebrate the contributions apprenticeships make to the economy.

Jordan Fairlamb is a contender in the Modern Apprentice of the Year SCQF Level 6 category, which is in partnership with JP Morgan.

The 19-year-old works as a supply chain management modern apprentice with Uddingston-based Dawnfresh.

All 26 finalists will be travelling to the awards, which are on November 7 in Dundee’s Caird Hall, when the winners will be revealed. One will be named Scotland’s Apprentice of the Year 2019.

Winners will also be crowned in the Apprentice Ambassador of the Year and Apprentice Instructor categories, which applaud those who champion apprenticeships.

Employers will also be recognised for their commitment to apprenticeships, and for their efforts to promote diversity and inclusion in the workplace through apprenticeships.

Jordan said: “I’ve had a lot of opportunities thanks to Dawnfresh’s attitude to apprentices. I feel the company has a lot of faith in me, sees the work I’ve done and gives me opportunities to do more. Apprentices here are treated as colleagues right from the start!”

Minister for Business, Fair Work and Skills Jamie Hepburn, said: “More and more individuals and employers across Scotland are seeing the benefits of apprenticeships.

“We are delivering more apprenticeships in Scotland than ever before with a record 28,191 starts in 2018/19 and over a quarter of a million modern and graduate apprentices across this administration.

“The Scottish Apprenticeship Awards are a chance to celebrate the achievements of apprentices and the commitment of employers to developing their workforce.

“This year saw a record-breaking number of award nominations reflecting the growing number of apprentices and employers who are investing in their future through work-based learning.”

SDS’S director of national training programmes, Katie Hutton, said: “We had a record number of nominations this year and the standard was very high. The skills and commitment shown by every one of our apprentice and employer finalists is truly impressive and inspiring.

“We look forward to celebrating their success in the coming months and recognising the winners in each category at the awards ceremony in November.”

To find out more about apprenticeships and the Awards, please visit www.apprenticeships.scot/awards.