Investing in the future

Updates from SECTT on celebrating Scottish Apprenticeship Week

With the theme of this year’s Scottish Apprenticeship Week being ‘unlocking potential’, it was fitting that SECTT visited a company that believes in always going the extra mile to help apprentices flourish.

The Trust arranged for Sue Webber MSP to tour Livingston Building Services as part of the annual event, where she learned first-hand how the company is equipping its learners with vital skills for the future.

During the visit to the SELECT Member firm on 10 March, she met apprentices Mac Forrester, Callum Wilson and Sean Slorach, who shared their work experiences and told her how much they enjoyed their jobs.

Ms Webber, who is the Conservative MSP for the Lothian region, said: “I was delighted to visit M&E specialists Livingston as part of Scottish Apprenticeship Week 2023. Speaking to the apprentices has given me a real insight into the invaluable opportunity these positions present to them. Earning while they learn and gaining formal qualifications will accelerate their development and create a springboard for their careers.

“It was also great to take part in a roundtable discussion about the importance of these apprenticeships and how Livingston is investing in our future workforce.”

Looking to the future

Ms Webber heard how Livingston’s ethos of promoting from within has also served the business well, with excellent staff retention meaning that more than 25% of staff have been with the business for at least 10 years.

Andy Russell, Operations Director at Livingston, revealed: “Apprenticeships are vital and these young people are the future of the business.

“At Livingston, we have a good reputation within the industry for training and development and we want to maintain that and build on it as apprentices are key to success.

“When all is said and done, our apprentices carry the future of our business in their hands. Properly managed, the modern apprenticeship allows them to get the vital skills, knowledge and experience they need and I’d have no hesitation in recommending it.”

During the visit, Andy also stressed the importance of having a good working relationship with SECTT – and said the support they receive from its staff is invaluable.

He said: “Apprentices really have to knuckle down and focus, so I keep close to them to make sure they’re getting the correct training and developing in line with their development plan.

“If they’re struggling, we give them support to get things moving in the right direction.

“The support from SECTT is equally important and our relationship is fantastic – a lot of our management team have come through the apprenticeship programme and know many of the people at SECTT from being in the industry.

“They’re great and if there are ever any issues you just need to contact them for advice and support.”

A pipeline of talent

The visit was facilitated by SECTT CEO Anne Galbraith, who said she continues to be impressed by the quality of learners developed by the company.

She told cabletalk: “I’ve worked with Livingston for many years and it never fails to recruit, support and train apprentices to a very high standard.

“It was inspiring to hear the three apprentices talk about the jobs they were working on and the excellent variety of work they get to experience.

“It was also lovely to hear that they all really enjoyed what they were doing, with each apprentice expressing satisfaction with both their on-site training and college programme.

“Livingston’s work spans a wide range of public and private sectors, and this pipeline of talent will help it continue to work within high-profile buildings for some of the UK’s leading organisations.”

SECTT also arranged for politicians to visit other electrical companies across Scotland, including SVM Port Services at Cairnryan, which welcomed Finlay Carson, Conservative MSP for Galloway and West Dumfries. It also helped to facilitate a visit by SNP MSP Clare Adamson to CS Electrical Ltd in her constituency of Motherwell and Wishaw.

Anne added: “I was delighted to organise these visits on behalf of the Scottish Government through Skills Development Scotland, which helped recognise the high-quality training we manage on behalf of the Scottish Joint Industry Board.”

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ABOUT SECTT

SECTT manages high-quality training on behalf of the SJIB. To find out more about SECTT and its work, call 0131 445 5659, email admin@sectt.org.uk or visit www.sectt.org.uk