Thursday 7 April 2011
Apprentice Gets Second Chance
Forth Valley College’s new campuses are providing a young student with the chance to complete his apprenticeship.
Kevin Palmer (20) from Bannockburn has just been taken on by MBBC Limited, one of the sub-contractors onsite at the new Alloa campus.
The opportunity will hopefully allow Kevin to re-start college and complete the third and fourth year of his bricklaying apprenticeship.
Kevin originally started his apprenticeship back in 2006 with Clinton Gray. He then moved to Archie Cowan to start his third year, however he was paid off when the company went bankrupt in 2009. Apart from a brief stint working in Superglass, Kevin has since been unemployed after he struggled to find another company who would take him on to finish his apprenticeship.
Kevin’s luck changed though after sending his CV into the college in a bid to get some help in finding a placement.
Forth Valley College and Miller Construction Ltd, the main contractor for the new builds, have committed to offering at least five apprenticeships through the construction of the new campuses in Alloa and Stirling.
Upon receiving Kevin’s CV, the College liaised with Miller Construction in order to set up the placement with MBBC Limited.
Kevin is now working full-time onsite at Alloa and will potentially stay with the company until he has finished his apprenticeship. He hopes to return to college in August.
Kevin said: “It’s brilliant being back in work and getting to do what I want again. I really enjoy bricklaying and it’s good to get a wage at the end of the week.
“I was worried about returning to work in case I had forgotten what to do, but as soon as I was onsite it all came back to me – it just seemed normal. I’m looking forward to starting college again as well, as I learned most of what I know through them. I hope I get to finish my apprenticeship and become a qualified brickie.”
Ian Morrison, Head of Department for Construction at Forth Valley College said: “We have been working closely with Miller Construction throughout the build to ensure our learners and the local community gain maximum benefit from the new campuses. A major part of this was offering apprenticeships and we were particularly keen to help students who may have been affected by the economic climate. Kevin had already completed a considerable part of his qualification and it would have been a shame to see this go to waste. We’re delighted to have helped Kevin find a placement and we’re very grateful to MBBC for giving him this opportunity.”
Brian McQuade, Managing Director – Scotland, Miller Construction, said: “Miller takes its commitment to the communities where we operate very seriously. It is important to us that whilst we are working in an area, that we not only deliver quality projects, but quality opportunities for local people. By working in partnership with both the College and MBBC, with whom we enjoy a long standing relationship, we were able to facilitate an opportunity for Kevin, we wish him well in the completion of his apprenticeship. ”
John Hamilton, Site Manager for MBBC Limited: “We were approached by Miller to take on Kevin and so far things have been going well. Kevin was quite advanced in his apprenticeship and is able to cope well with the work under supervision.”
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