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.
The independent survey by Scottish Gas has revealed that over two fifths (41 per cent) of people in Edinburgh wouldn’t even consider an apprenticeship as a route to beginning a new career. Over a fifth (22 per cent) believe they are too old.
Only three per cent of people in Edinburgh surveyed thought you could undertake an apprenticeship in your 30s. In fact, almost a third (30 per cent) of current Scottish Gas apprentices are over the age of 30!
Whilst the research highlights out-of-date views as to who can enrol for an apprenticeship, it is clear that people do recognise its value. Almost a fifth (17 per cent) of people said that if they had their time again they would definitely do an apprenticeship, whilst almost a third (32 per cent) said they would seriously consider it.
Almost three quarters (72 per cent) of those surveyed recognised that an apprenticeship was a great way to start a successful career. The vast majority (84 per cent) appreciated that the main benefit of doing an apprenticeship is learning new skills. More than half (54 per cent) highlighted that the main plus point is getting on the career ladder.
Scottish Apprenticeship Week starts today (29 February 2016) – five days of events being staged across the country to showcase what modern apprenticeships bring to individuals, businesses and the economy.
As part of Scottish Apprenticeship Week, Scottish Gas is seeking to redefine people’s views of apprenticeships by opening the doors to its Hamilton Academy to give people the chance to find out what a modern apprenticeship really involves.
John Lochrie, former Scottish Gas apprentice and now Operations Director for HomeCare Services at Scottish Gas, said: “It’s clear from our research that while many people see the value in apprenticeships, they don’t necessarily realise that the training is suitable for everyone of working age – whether that’s a teenage school leaver, a mum wanting to earn while she learns, or someone looking to retrain for a new career later in life. People in Scotland may be limiting their options and not exploring an apprenticeship as a legitimate career route.
“At Scottish Gas, our apprentices come from all walks of life. Almost a third (30%) are over the age of 30, and many are career-changers.
“I’d encourage people to shake off the old stereotypes and consider undertaking a modern apprenticeship no matter how old they are. We welcome everyone into the programme and are proud to be an inclusive employer.”
Scottish Gas has hundreds of apprentices in Scotland, investing around £30,000 for each apprentice it trains. The business also has a 95 per cent retention rate for apprentices and is rated ‘Outstanding’ by Ofsted.
Taking a hobby and turning it into a job is a dream for most people starting out in their career – but it’s a dream come true for Toby Hardwick.
Although Toby initially went to University to study sports science, his passion for working with his hands and fixing things proved too strong and meant it wasn’t long before he joined Scottish Gas as a Smart Energy Expert Apprentice.
The 26-year-old spent three years at University and a further two years as a sports coach, but since joining the apprenticeship scheme last November he hasn’t looked back.
Toby, originally from Inverness and now working in Edinburgh, said: “I do quite a lot of road cycling, so I tinker around with bikes and enjoy fixing things. I recently renovated an old bike and got it back on the road again, which was very satisfying.
“Doing sports development and coaching was OK but the appeal of turning my hobby into a job was much stronger. I like using tools and working with my hands in my spare time so pursuing it as a career was a fantastic opportunity.”
Toby set his sights on joining Scottish Gas after speaking with one of his friends, Simon Beaumont, a Scottish Gas engineer.
“I had thought about an apprenticeship scheme in the past. I spoke to Steve about how much he was enjoying working for Scottish Gas and that convinced me it was something I wanted to pursue” he said.
“I’ve only been on the scheme a short time, but we’re picking up new skills very quickly – the balance between training at the academy and spending time with a mentor is really important, and helps you put what you have learned into practice.”
Toby said working as a Smart Energy Expert had helped him combine what he loved about his former job with his passion for practical work.
He said: “One of the things I enjoyed most about coaching was meeting new people, and I’m glad I’m still able to do that in my new role – every job we go out to is different and it’s great meeting customers every day.”
“It’s really interesting working on the Smart meter installation side – customers are enthusiastic about the fact they don’t need to worry about estimated bills or submitting meter readings anymore. For older customers in particular it is really useful, as meters can sometimes be in hard-to-reach places.”
Toby concluded: “Working on the tools at the Academy has also improved my work on my bike, which is definitely a bonus!”
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