Perseverance has paid off for former refugee Shams
A CIVIL Engineering Graduate Apprenticeship laid the foundations for former refugee Shams Rahimi to build an award-winning career in construction.
Shams, pictured below, a Technical Planner with GRAHAM Construction, said getting on-the-job experience while studying for his degree and earning was the ideal way to develop his career, build his confidence and forge a path in the industry.
Originally from Afghanistan, Shams arrived alone in the UK aged just 17 after leaving behind family and friends in search of a better life.
Initially unable to find work, he enrolled in college before looking for an opportunity on a building site.
Shams’ perseverance paid off when he met a director at GRAHAM and landed a
Graduate
Apprenticeship with the firm thanks to his enthusiasm.
Now 29, Shams has earned a first-class honours degree through Heriot-watt University and recently won the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) Scotland’s Graduate of the Year prize. Graduate Apprenticeships are a way to get qualified up to Master’s degree level while in paid employment.
Designed by education and employers, Graduate Apprenticeships are offered in key sectors that need highly skilled employees.
Shams said: “I like that the Graduate Apprenticeship has allowed me to gain years of experience while becoming qualified academically. “Doing what I can and doing it as best as I can has resulted in good outcomes and constant improvement for me.” Throughout his fouryear Graduate Apprenticeship, Shams impressed colleagues at GRAHAM and lecturers at Heriot-watt with the consistently high level of performance and commitment that earned him a first last year.
Praising the support he received, Shams added: “While Heriot-watt University helped me with the Graduate Apprenticeship programme, especially academically, my employer has provided support and opportunities at work.
“One of the best aspects of the Graduate Apprenticeship has been earning while learning. Another is gaining a qualification while gaining experience, which has made me so confident at work as well as during my studies.”
Laurent Galbrun, programme director for Heriot-watt’s Civil Engineering Graduate Apprenticeship, said: “Shams’ journey is a testimony to his perseverance, dedication and humility.
“Since graduating last year, Shams has now taken on the role of work-based mentor for other Graduate Apprentices and is well on his way to a successful career.”
Shams was nominated in the CIOB awards alongside his colleague Jos Mackie, another former Heriot-watt Graduate Apprentice.
Debbie Rutherford, Social Impact Manager at GRAHAM Building North, said: “The construction industry is experiencing a real skills shortage.
“To address this, GRAHAM has made a significant investment in the training and upskilling of colleagues with the aim of building future talent and retaining existing skills for the company.
“Our apprentices are not only obtaining qualifications, but they are also gaining invaluable experience which benefits us as an employer.
“The knowledge our colleagues are acquiring is being applied on sites, which brings positive change through fresh new methods and different ways of thinking.
“Very importantly, Graduate Apprenticeships are opening up the industry to new demographics and creating a diverse and inclusive workforce.”