Elgin apprentice Meg Scott and Forres firm AES Solar represented at national awards
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A TALENTED apprentice from Elgin and a business from Forres have gained national recognition for their achievements through apprenticeships.
Civil engineering graduate apprentice Meg Scott, originally from Elgin, and AES Solar are finalists in the Scottish Apprenticeship Awards.
The awards night is set to take place on Wednesday, March 9.
Meg (21) is responsible for the development of signalised junctions, traffic calming measures and walking, wheeling and cycling infrastructure design at Glasgow-based global engineering firm AECOM.
A project she delivered for Aviemore has been used to secure funding and help appoint a contractor, while she has also been praised by Glasgow City Council for her work on its Spaces for People schemes.
Meg’s achievements have earned her a place in the awards’ Graduate Apprentice of the Year category, sponsored by Morrison Construction.
She said: “From school I went to university, but after a year I realised it wasn't for me as I'm more of a practical learner.
"I decided on a Graduate Apprenticeship as I know how beneficial it is to gain real experience while learning and earning.
“Sustainable travel really piques my interest. Sustainability is such a massive thing in the world and it's the way to move forward. With civil engineering you can see what you're giving back to the world in physical form.”
AECOM associate director Peter Leslie added: “Meg’s passion for engineering lies in its importance in lowering our carbon footprint and creating a sustainable future.
“There were more than 100 applicants for one job and Meg got it thanks to her passion for engineering and her excellent communication skills.”
Solar panel experts AES Solar have been recognised in the SME Employer of the Year category, sponsored by the Scottish Qualifications Authority.
The company says its future will always include apprenticeships, with almost 20 per cent of its current workforce made up of apprentices.
The firm first became an apprentice employer in March 2015 to provide more structured training and development opportunities. It has since achieved a 100 percent apprentice retention rate.
AES Solar's marketing manager Hannah Jakobsen said: “Apprentices are always seen as a win-win investment.
"When looking ahead to our business growth and recruitment plans it seems unlikely that there will be a route where apprenticeships do not feature – quite simply, it’s impossible to imagine a future without them.”
To register to attend the free online Scottish Apprenticeship Awards ceremony visit apprenticeships.scot/awards.
