Employers are the key

The best statement of commitment a business makes to its local community and customers is to value their children by investing in training

The world of work awaits and today’s apprenticeships are the key to success for so many young people and for the companies employing them.

They go right to the heart of the workforce, to earn as they learn; attend college and set themselves up for life in their chosen field.

Here at Wyvex Media we have had our own apprentice success stories and the same is true across all major players in the West Highland economy. What better statement of commitment can a business make to its local community and customers than to value their children?

The beating heart of the Modern Apprenticeships and Developing the Young Workforce is our colleges; Argyll College in Oban and West Highland College in Fort William, with all their learning centres across the West Highlands as part of the University of the Highlands and Islands. Three of our biggest businesses, CalMac ferries, Scottish and Southern Electric and Aggregate Industries UK at Glensanda have a long tradition of apprenticeships across all areas of their operations; their core work, administration and in CalMac’s case catering. Aquaculture brings more than £12 million in salaries into Argyll and Bute* every year and offers apprenticeships at all levels and in some of the most remote places on the mainland and the Hebrides.

Drax’s long-running apprenticeship scheme is part of its commitment to developing new talent as well as upskilling the workforce across the region. Drax has 52 apprentices as well as 50 existing employees working towards apprenticeship qualifications within the business.

Mowi Scotland is the UK’s largest producer of farm raised salmon with 48 Scottish farms that produce over 68,000 tonnes of salmon annually. The company is investing around £15 million upgrading its operations at Blar Mhor, Fort William.

In December 2020 26 members of staff were the first cohort to begin a Modern Apprenticeship with West Highland College.

The Scottish Salmon Company, the first salmon producer in Europe to be awarded a four-star Best Aquaculture Practice accreditation for its freshwater, marine and processing sites, has had a total of 77 apprentices throughout the business and runs some of Scotland’s most remote sites in the Outer Hebrides.

Scottish Sea Farms Ltd has a gold good practice award from Investors in Young People.

It has its own Aquaculture Academy, designed in partnership with Argyll College and now being piloted with secondary schools to give students an insight into the careers available in aquaculture at an earlier stage in their decision-making

It shows what Scottish Sea Farms can offer by combining classroom teaching with practical elements spending time on farms and its business departments.

The academy also offers coaching in key life skills such as how to interview well and write a successful job application.