One of the UK’s largest engineering consultancies will help a duo of talented youngsters map out successful career paths after joining the Press and Journal’s Apprentice 100 campaign.
Fairhurst, which provides a wide range of civil and structural engineering design services for the construction and engineering sectors, has vowed to recruit two trainee technicians in the coming months as part of our campaign to boost youth employment.
The privately-owned partnership has more than 525 employees, spread across its 17 UK offices, with 75 based in Aberdeen.
It has provided services for major local developments such as Union Square shopping centre and Prime Four business park as well as providing services to Aberdeen City Council and Aberdeenshire Council.
Alastair Scott-Kiddie, a partner at Fairhurst, said the business has a track record for growing its own talent by taking on school leavers and training them to become technicians.
Mr Scott-Kiddie said: “Our commitment to providing opportunities for young people is a key aspect of our business. The object of our training is to develop the skills to allow young people to become an integral part of the team and develop their career in a structured manner.
“We have an ongoing commitment to the educational and professional development of all employees through a structured programme of training for all grades of staff. Opportunities exist for the part-time education of trainee technicians at college to gain an HNC whilst they work within a larger project team in the office.
“We are delighted to join the Press and Journal’s Apprentice 100 Campaign and commit to helping further young people to start their careers in the construction industry.”
Mr Scott-Kiddie added that the company also supports its employees if they decide to go on to university to extend their qualifications to become fully qualified engineers.
Craig Donaldson is a prime example of someone who has progressed from school leaver, through training and is now undertaking significant pieces of work, despite his relative youth.
Mr Donaldson, 25, joined the firm nearly eight years ago and has progressed into the role of senior technician.
His most high-profile job to date was providing all of the drawings for John Clark Motor Group’s new Audi showroom in Aberdeen.
Mr Donaldson said: “As you go on, you can progress and take on more responsibility. Instead of being told what to draw, you are doing the designs yourself. It’s a challenging role – you’re not doing the same thing every day.”
Dale Chapman joined as an apprentice in June after deciding he wanted to pursue a career that would allow him to exploit his interest in graphic communications and technical drawing.
Dale, 17, said he has improved his computer skills in recent months and has learned a lot in relation to infrastructure for new development sites.
Apply to become an apprentice at Fairhurst by sending a CV and cover letter to: Alastair.scott-kiddie@fairhurst.co.uk