Thinking of a career change? Don’t dismiss an apprenticeship!
Discontented workers in Edinburgh looking to change careers could be limiting their options by assuming that apprenticeships are just for school leavers, according to new research released today from Scottish Gas. Continue reading You’re hired: Scottish Apprenticeship Week
British Gas will hire up to 200 apprentices in smart metering across Britain, taking the total recruited to approximately 1,000 this year, it’s been announced. Of those new roles, around 30 will be with Scottish Gas.
The apprentices will join the 1,400 British Gas Smart Energy Experts already installing smart meters in homes across Britain. British Gas expects to continue recruiting in smart metering to complete the nationwide roll-out by 2020.
The apprentices will install smart meters, explain to customers how to use the smart meter in-home display, which shows how much energy is being used in pounds and pence, and provide energy efficiency advice.
Customers will benefit from an end to estimated bills, accurate meter readings and the ability to better understand their energy usage, resulting in potential savings on bills. British Gas is currently trialling Smart Pay As You Go with customers who have prepayment meters. The company is also creating new apps that give smart meter customers information about their energy use on their phone.
British Gas has installed over 1.5 million smart meters in homes across Britain, and is now fitting them at an average rate of one every sixty seconds. More than 117,000 smart meters have been installed by Scottish Gas in Scottish households.
John Craig, Director of Smart Operations, British Gas, based in Edinburgh, said: “This year, we will recruit around 1,000 apprentices in smart metering. We’ve taken the lead in giving our customers more control and insight into their energy use through smart meters. The new recruits will mean we can help even more people benefit from smart meters.”
The new Scottish Gas recruits will receive technical training and will study for the City & Guilds Level 2 QCF Diploma in Smart Metering Dual Fuel. Once they have qualified, they will be ready to go into customers’ homes across Scotland to install smart meters. They will each have their own fully-equipped van, and be supported by the latest tablet and mobile phone technology.
Pictured: Smart meter apprentice, Sam Gibb from Edinburgh – who recently started training as part of this new recruitment drive in the initial 70 Scottish Gas roles.
Pictures by Chris Watt
But STEM (Science Technology Engineering and Maths) offers good career opportunities for young women too
As thousands of teens nervously await tomorrow’s exam results, new research from Scottish Gas has highlighted the depth of anxiety among youngsters in Edinburgh about their career prospects …
Two thirds (66.5%) of 15-22 year olds surveyed in Edinburgh are concerned about the possibility of not being able to find a job in the future, while 67.5% are anxious about ending up in a ‘dead end’ job.
Research shows that young women are concerned most about being in a low paying job, with 58% admitting they fear that being in this situation in the future, compared to 77% of young men.
In Edinburgh, young women’s salary expectations reflect these worries: those surveyed assumed their earning potential was over 13% lower than their male counterparts. The research showed that on average, young women expected to earn £29,963 by the time they are 30, while young men expect to earn £34,732.
Young people are convinced their parents’ generation had it easier. Over half (55%) of those surveyed think it is more difficult for them to find a good job than it was for their parents.
Nearly a half (45%) believe it is harder for their generation to find a job with a good salary, while a third (33%) of youngsters think it is more difficult to find a job with good prospects.
When asked about future career paths, the research for Scottish Gas shows that some sectors of the jobs market continue to be overlooked by many young women in Edinburgh. Just under half of those surveyed (46%) admitted they had never considered working in STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths) sectors.
Last year, just 3.3% of applicants for Scottish Gas’ technical and engineering apprenticeship schemes were women. The company has since put in place a number of measures to attract more women to its apprenticeship scheme. This includes hosting open days aimed at women at its Training Academy in Hamilton and launching a new mentoring programme.
The research found that women in Edinburgh are turning their back on these industries for a number of reasons, including a perception that the industry is sexist (11%), or better suited to the opposite sex (11%). In addition, 44% of young women put their reluctance to work in STEM sectors down to their lack of knowledge of the subject area. A further 6% also say there are not enough role models in these industries.
The results cast doubt on the quality of career advice youngsters get from their parents. The research revealed parents in Edinburgh were almost twice as likely to advise boys to take on an apprenticeship compared to girls. 15% of parents would encourage their son to take on an apprenticeship while only 8% of parents would give the same advice to their daughter. Just over a quarter (28%) of parents said they offered differing career advice to their children, depending on their gender.
John Lochrie, former Scottish Gas apprentice and now Operations Director for HomeCare Services at Scottish Gas, said: “There are some fantastic opportunities for both women and men in these sectors, so I’m concerned to hear that so many young women are put off by careers in science, technology, engineering and maths.
“With boys already taking advantage of apprenticeships, I would encourage girls to think about engineering. Apprenticeships are a great way into an organisation, and at Scottish Gas they allow you to earn while you learn and develop skills for life.”
For young people considering a career in STEM, more information can be found online athttp://www.britishgas.co.uk/the-source.
Julie Dickson (above) is currently training at the Scottish Gas Academy in Hamilton.
Julie, 24, joined the Scottish Gas apprenticeship scheme in January last year. She is now training to become an engineer at the Scottish Gas Academy in Hamilton. She applied for the programme whilst working at Scottish Gas’ contact centre in Uddingston to make appointments to fix boilers.
Julie said: “I started working at Scottish Gas during a really bad winter. I would speak with engineers to make sure they were going to help customers who needed our support first, such as the elderly or those with young children. It was really inspirational hearing how they went the extra mile to help people stay safe and warm, despite heavy snow and freezing temperatures. So when I heard that we were recruiting for apprentices, I decided to apply and I couldn’t believe it when I was accepted!”
When Julie arrived at the Scottish Gas Academy she instantly felt right at home. She said: “On my first day, I wasn’t surprised that I was the only female apprentice. I know, from my own experience, that women aren’t really encouraged to go down this route from school. All the apprentices are treated the same and the support and encouragement I get every day from my instructors is amazing.
Talking about the training, she added: “The training is second to none and it has really built up my confidence as well as a lot of my general skills. I really like the fact there’s a mix of practical and theory on the course. I can be learning how to test a boiler in the classroom one minute then apply what I’ve learnt on a mock boiler in the workshop the next. We also get to shadow qualified engineers as well, so we’re fully prepared and confident in our abilities by the time we get to a customer’s home for the first time by ourselves.”
Julie was also inspired to become an apprentice engineer because of her father, who’s now very proud of her achievements. She said: “My dad works for an aerospace engineering company and started his career as an apprentice. When I was 14, I went along to a ‘bring your child to work day’ at his firm, and that’s when I realised that a career in engineering was for me. I’m delighted I’ve had the chance to get on the road towards following in my dad’s footstep and I’m really excited about the future.”
Now Julie wants to use her experiences to inspire other women to apply. She said: “I’d encourage anyone to consider an apprenticeship. You get to learn life-long skills and get paid to do a job that’s rewarding and enjoyable every day. My goal is to become one of the top engineers in my area to hopefully make other women realise they can get a career in engineering if they work hard.”
New research from Scottish Gas has revealed that parents in Edinburgh are twice as likely to advise boys to take on an apprenticeship compared to girls. 15% of parents would encourage their son to take on an apprenticeship while only 8% of parents would give the same advice to their daughter.
Parents’ views have a big impact on the career choices young people make. When asked about what career their parents would like them to pursue, half (27%) of teenage boys in Glasgow said an apprenticeship; only 10% of teenage girls reported the same.
As part of Scottish Apprenticeship Week (18 – 22 May), an independent national survey* polling teens and parents found that just over a quarter (28%) of parents in Edinburgh admitted offering their children differing career advice depending on their gender.
Only 17% of teenage girls in Edinburgh view an apprenticeship as a viable career option. Yet more than a third of teenage boys (35%) are keen to go straight from school into an apprenticeship scheme.
Scottish Gas, which has trained 500 apprentices from across Scotland since opening the doors to its academy in Hamilton five years ago, is urging more girls to consider an apprenticeship. Explaining this rally to young women, the company said in 2014 only 3.3% of applicants for its competitive technical and engineering apprenticeship schemes were female.
John Lochrie, who is a former Scottish Gas apprentice and is now Operations Director for HomeCare Services at Scottish Gas, said: “It’s clear from this research that apprenticeships are still regarded as something of a man’s world among young people.
“Apprenticeships are a great way into an organisation. A Scottish Gas apprenticeship allows you to earn while you learn and encourages you to develop skills for life. I’d encourage all girls thinking about their future career, or looking for employment, to consider an apprenticeship.”
Scottish Gas’ survey also reveals concerns with careers advice for teenage girls and boys. Over two fifths (44%) of teenage girls polled in Edinburgh complained of receiving unhelpful advice and 47% of teenage boys shared the same complaint.
Poor careers advice has resulted in teenage girls limiting their own career choices. Six in ten (60%) teenage girls in Edinburgh surveyed said they had never considered a career in engineering. Meanwhile, young people in the city felt teenage girls were best suited to very stereotyped roles with their top three career choices including: nursing (67%), beauty & fashion (68%) and healthcare (67%).
Fifer Andrew Ness (above) joined the Scottish Gas apprenticeship scheme in November 2013. After studying for a BSc in Microbiology and then working in the finance sector, he decided to change direction completely.
Andrew, (35), explained: “I had started on the path to a career in IT, getting my A+ and Network+ qualifications. Then I worked in the finance sector for 10 years. At the time I was also volunteering on weekends repairing computers for charities. I wanted to move into computer repair as a career but I found there were a lot of people going after a limited number of jobs.”
Andrew heard about the apprenticeships scheme through his flatmate who works in the Scottish Gas contact centre. He said: “It seemed like a great chance to get all of the skills and knowledge that I needed to make a new career for myself. I was so excited when I found out I’d been accepted. My family were really pleased for me too, because Scottish Gas is such a well-known company.”
Andrew was looking for a career that was more hands-on than his previous office-based jobs. He said: “Learning practical skills was a real change for me, having never done anything like it before. But with the support and training I received from my instructors, and some hard work, I got better at these practical skills really quickly. I’m sure anyone else could do the same.”
Like many of Scottish Gas’ apprentices, Andrew is particularly enjoying the sociable nature of his job. He said: “It’s amazing how many times you arrive at someone’s house to do some work for them and it turns out to be someone you already know! It’s great for someone like me who enjoys meeting new people and being around others.”
Andrew is now looking forward to what the future holds. He added: “I would absolutely recommend an apprenticeship with Scottish Gas. There is a lot of work involved and it takes real commitment but it is definitely worthwhile and really shows that you are someone who can reach a goal.
“I think being engineer is a great career choice for both men and women. It’s definitely practical and you need an interest in fixing things but anyone can do it. It’s really positive that Scottish Gas is encouraging more women to join its apprenticeship scheme.”
Tips for teens interested in an apprenticeship at Scottish Gas:
Bag Packing at Morrison’s (Ferry Road) 8 November
Muirhouse Community Centre’s Boys & Girls Clubs
Additional funds were needed to insure the best possible experiences throughout the year for both the Centre’s Clubs (writes JAMES McGINTY). Morrison’s graciously allowed our boys and girls to bag pack at the check outs – and a very generous donation from Scottish Gas of £250 gave the clubs a flying start!
Fifteen boys and girls – along with Paul, Chris, Donna, Stephanie, Peter & Allan who acted as supervisors – got down to their tasks with great zest and enthusiasm.
The boys were first up, being transported by MYDG transport ( Many thanks to Muirhouse Youth Development Group) working from 2 – 4pm, then the girls from 4 – 6pm.
The total raised on the day (including Scottish Gas’ generous donation) was £612.76p. The whole exercise fitted perfectly with the citizenship taught in the clubs on a weekly basis. Thank you to everyone involved!
James McGinty
Muirhouse Millennium Community Centre
At least sixty new jobs will be created at Scottish Gas HQ on Granton’s waterfront, it has been announced. Parent company Centrica plans to create 300 jobs at contact centres across the UK.
The majority of the new posts will be created in Cardiff and Edinburgh,with the remainder going to Uddingston, Leeds, Leicester, Manchester, Oldbury and Stockport.
The jobs come on top of 300 similar jobs recently filled. At least twelve school-leavers will be among the new recruits, as part of British Gas’ commitment to tackle youth unemployment.
Kevin Roxburgh, Director of Customer Services at British Gas, explained: “These extra 300 jobs show our continued focus on customer service excellence. We’re looking for people who are committed to helping customers, to join the 28,000-strong team at British Gas.
“These front line roles are critical to delivering the service our customers expect, helping customers with everything from bills and boiler breakdowns, to engineer visits and energy efficiency.
“Our contact centres are vital to the running of our company. They’re the main point where we’re in touch directly with customers, so it’s important we get it right.
“We’ll be ensuring customers get a swift response and resolution to their queries, by ensuring the right people are always on hand with the knowledge and expertise to help.”
Mr Roxburgh added that all new employees will undertake a comprehensive training period where they will be given the knowledge and expertise to deliver excellent customer experience.
Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Therapy Centre in Edinburgh has been adopted by Scottish Gas as its local charity partner. Scottish Gas Business Services in Granton has pledged to help the MS Therapy Centre for at least the next 12 months through fundraising activities, providing IT support, refreshing the website and by staff volunteering at the Centre itself.
It is estimated that there are approximately 2300 people in The Lothians alone who live with Multiple Sclerosis.The MS Therapy Centre, which covers Edinburgh, Fife, The Lothians and The Borders,costs £180,000 to run per year with the majority of this money coming from fundraising and charitable donations.
David Stewart, HR Manager at Scottish Gas said: “Scottish Gas isproud to support the MS Therapy Centre Lothian as its local charity partner. Over the next year, our people will hold fundraising and volunteering activities for a fantastic cause that helps so many people living with MS.”
Carole Macartney, Chairperson, MS Therapy Centre said: “This announcement is going to make such a difference to the people who use the Centre and also to our amazing team of volunteers. I am looking forward to meeting the Scottish Gas staff as the partnership grows and would like to thank them very much for nominating the MS Therapy Centre as their charity partner.”
Scottish Gas has already raised £180 through a raffle among its Granton HQ staff and is organising a programme of further fundraising events.
Traffic at the east end of Ferry Road will be severely disrupted for up to 28 weeks when Scottish Gas Networks begins major work to replace mains pipes at the end of this month. The company says the upgrade to the network is essential, but commuters and local residents look set for seven miserable months of road closures, parking restrictions, diversions and temporary traffic lights.
In a statement, Scottish Gas Networks said: ‘The existing metal gas mains and services in the vicinity of Ferry Road, need to be replaced with modern plastic polyethylene (PE) pipe to ensure a continued safe and reliable gas supply to the local area. We will be renewing 1.75km of gas mains.
This essential work forms part of our ongoing mains replacement programme developed with the Health and Safety Executive. Work will last for approximately 28 weeks and will be carried out by May Gurney on our behalf.
We have been working closely with the City of Edinburgh Council, Lothian and Borders Police and Lothian Buses to plan this project and minimise disruption as much as possible. We will continue to work with these organisations and local residents throughout the course of the project.
Works will begin on Ferry Road, at its junction with Madeira Street and will continue westbound towards Craighall Road. The works will take place in four phases during which time there will be some temporary traffic lights in operation.
Phase 1 works will be between the junction of Ferry Road with Madeira Street and the junction of Ferry Road with Newhaven Road. This phase will last for approximately six – eight weeks.
During Phase 2 we will be working between the junction of Ferry Road with Newhaven Road and Bonar Place. This will take approximately 10 weeks.
Phase 3 will last approximately four weeks. Works will be on Newhaven Road, from the junction with Ferry Road to the junction with Pitt Street.
Phase 4 will also take place on Newhaven Road, between the junction with Bonnington Avenue and the junction with Stewartfield. During this phase there will also be some works on West Bowling Green Street. The phase will last for approximately six weeks.
Works will be suspended from Friday 21 December for the festive period. They will recommence on Monday 7 January.
To allow for the manoeuvre of heavy plant equipment and to ensure everyone’s safety there will be some parking restrictions in place during the works, as well as some local road closures. Local diversions will be in place where necessary.
All local shops and businesses will be open as usual. Pedestrian access will be maintained at all times and access for deliveries to businesses will be maintained where possible.’
While the company plans to mitigate problems for commuters, traders and residents, the scale of the work is going to have a major impact on Ferry Road and adjacent neighbourhoods.
Scotland Gas Networks’ Team Manager, Simon Kennedy said: “All our works are carried out in close consultation with the local Council and we will do everything we can to minimise disruption. We understand that people get frustrated by roadworks and thank them for their patience while we carry out these essential works. The new plastic pipe has a minimum lifespan of 80 years. This means that when the work is complete, local residents will continue to enjoy the benefits of a safe and reliable gas supply for years to come.”
More information is available at www.sgn.co.uk
Quest 2012, the annual scavenger hunt which is the centrepiece of summer programme activities, got underway from Scottish Gas HQ on Waterfront Avenue this morning.
More pictures to follow
