Anglian Water Business pictured apprentice Owen Forrest | © Sandy Young

This year’s Scottish Apprenticeship Week (6th to 10th March) provides a unique opportunity to draw attention to and recognise the important role Modern Apprentices play in the businesses and other organisations in which they work.

Organised by Skills Development Scotland (SDS), Scottish Apprenticeship Week highlights the commitment of businesses, like our own, who have decided to invest in the skills of their workforce.
At Anglian Water Business we recognise that our Apprentices play a major part in our continued success and aim to provide an environment where their commitment and our high standards offer unique career opportunities.

We currently employ two Modern Apprentices, both based at our Edinburgh office. Nineteen year old Owen, the first Modern Apprentice we took on and a former youth professional footballer, joined us last August to train as a mechanical engineer and splits his time between office-based and on-site activity as well as completing his studies at Fife College. Two months later Jamie Palmer, who is the same age and who had left school unsure of what to do next, joined us to train and work in our customer support team.

Since joining both Owen and Jamie have thrived, demonstrating the value of Modern Apprenticeships, not just to the individual but to us as a company as well. They bring passion, skills, dedication and drive to the workplace and we feel lucky to have them both.

While it is encouraging to note that in the previous financial year, Scottish businesses employed a record 25,500 Modern Apprentices, with four out of five apprenticeships taken up by 16 to 24-year-olds, we would like to take this opportunity to encourage more businesses to take on a Modern Apprentice, as we have.

The benefits can be immense, to both the individual and the organisation, leading to improved productivity, morale, staff retention, quality of service, and assistance in meeting specific industry needs. Plus, businesses get help with training, funding and recruitment and apprentices often help to upskill existing staff.

There really is no better time to recognise the valuable job all of Scotland’s Modern Apprentices do and the vital role they play in so many businesses.

Tony March, Business Development Manager, Anglian Water Business