Scottish Apprenticeship Week is the best time to reflect on how apprenticeships can help individuals develop the skills and knowledge they need to succeed in the field. Last night, a delegation of George Leslie apprentices, past and present, attended a CITB event at the Scottish Parliament sponsored by Monica Lennon MSP, accompanied by our Managing Director, David Ross.
Apprenticeships not only provide young people with hands-on experience and a stable income but also equip them with future-ready skills and real-life learning opportunities that they can carry throughout their careers.
Our modern apprentices and graduate apprentices have all paved their own way to where they are today. That’s why we celebrate who our apprentices are, what they do, how they got here, and what they enjoy most about the company.
At George Leslie, most graduate apprentices work under a hybrid learning model. This means the majority of the week (four days) is dedicated to gaining hands-on work experience on-site with our clients (e.g., Scottish Water, CMAL, or SPEN), which is crucial to their learning and development throughout the apprenticeship. One day per week is allocated for attending university and learning from industry experts.
Although the graduate apprenticeship route into civil engineering is not the only pathway available, young people join George Leslie through the Tigers Group, which works to seamlessly transition them from the classroom to the workplace regardless of their background and qualifications, through training programs, modern apprenticeships, and supportive mentors.
Additionally, while we are primarily a civil engineering company, civil engineering apprenticeships are not the only ones we offer. We also provide opportunities in quantity surveying and administrative apprenticeships.
Speaking at the event, Frank Mitchell, Chair of Skills Development Scotland said:
“We’re here during Scottish Apprenticeship Week to celebrate Scotland’s long and proud history of generating skills through apprenticeships in construction. With around 8,000 apprentices, there are more apprentices training in the construction sector than any other sector of our economy.
“Each of these apprentices is learning while they earn and the vast majority go on to high quality, rewarding careers in the sector, picking up skills that will last a lifetime.”
Peter Lauener, Chair, CITB addressed the 150 attendees saying:
“This year, I look forward to CITB and partners providing even more support for young people to experience tasters of employment in the construction industry; for employers to take on apprentices; and to develop the diversity and inclusion of sector.”
CITB Parliamentary Reception – Pics by Peter Devlin