This week is Scottish Apprenticeship Week and Russell Group are proud to be Apprenticeship employers, currently supporting 10 employees through Apprenticeships across Scotland.

The Group’s apprentices take on a variety of Scottish Vocational Qualifications (SVQs) from business and administration, driving, warehouse operations and even mechanical engineering. These courses can take between 6 months to 4 years to complete and result in the participant becoming qualified in their chosen area.

Andrew Dickson, our Apprentice HGV Mechanic for Russell Group Engineering, gives us an insight into his apprenticeship.

“I have always had a keen interest in trucks and have always wanted to be a mechanic.

The apprenticeship I am undertaking involves a mixture of college and work experience. At the start, I assisted mechanics, but as my training moved along, I was given different jobs to do myself.

The most rewarding part of my job is learning everyday, and job satisfaction when the vehicle leaves completed.

Summing up working in logistics would be interesting and challenging.”

Drew, our Graduate Apprentice in Cyber Security has always been interested in IT and he was excited by the prospect of doing a Higher National Diploma (HND).

“My initial apprenticeship (HND) was more helpdesk focused, but since then I’ve begun a graduate apprenticeship which includes a cyber security degree. It means I’m learning the techniques to protect the business from cyber threats.”

Drew has taken advantage of the developmental opportunities of working within logistics, not simply through a qualification relevant to his existing role on the helpdesk, but by following a more advanced qualification that will enable him to pursue the career that he’s most interested in.

He describes his job as ‘entertaining, challenging and rewarding’ and he can see exactly how his career with The Russell Group will progress:

“In five years’ time I see myself qualified with an honour’s degree in cyber security and still part of the IT team here at Russell Group.”

More than 100 employees have completed apprenticeship schemes at Russell Group over the years and we will continue to extend our investment in today’s young talent. Scottish Apprenticeship Week highlights the benefits apprenticeships bring to individuals, businesses, and the economy. It also celebrates the achievements of individual apprentices and all those who contribute to their success.

Scottish Apprenticeship Week is a nationwide campaign aimed at encouraging more employers to take on apprentices, this year it celebrates its’ 15^th anniversary. As of October 2021, there were 555,900 people taking part in apprenticeships.

To find out more about Scottish Apprenticeship Week visit: https://www.apprenticeships.scot/events/scottish-apprenticeship-week/