Years of quality construction experience has been added to Forth Valley College’s Carpentry and Joinery Modern Apprenticeship programme with the appointment of John MacMillan to the role of Work-based Assessor.
John (56) from Menstrie, began his own career as an apprentice joiner with Clackmannan Council and ended up as Service Manager for Housing with Stirling Council, before retiring recently. He has been in his new Construction Work-based Assessor role for 10 weeks now, and is enjoying helping to assess modern apprentices, some of which he oversaw while working for the council.
John, said: “Having worked in the construction industry for my whole career at various levels, I felt I had the required experience for the role and also felt that it would allow me to contribute to new professionals joining my industry. The team that I work within are all very supportive and have allowed me to understand the role and assisted me in developing my skills and work towards my LD9Di Assessor qualification.
“My role is as an assessor for Carpentry and Joinery students and the main area of work is assessing the candidates’ portfolios against the SQA qualification they are hoping to achieve. My normal working day is spent either discussing outstanding work with students, advising them on what needs done or assessing their submissions and evidence. This involves site visits to carry out observations and occasionally I will meet the students in college to provide advice and support in completing their portfolios and providing evidence.
“One of the main benefits of working as an Assessor for me is that it allows me to give apprentices the benefit of my experience and to relate to them from a shared perspective of working in the construction industry. I hope that I am able to give fair and reasonable assessment of students’ work and provide them with beneficial feedback.
“Through this role I would hope to help support apprentices to realise their potential and gain the work-based SVQ qualification needed to successfully pursue their chosen career.
“I would recommend the role as it allows for a great deal of satisfaction when students move forward with their work and develop their portfolios. Another aspect of this exciting role is the ability to keep candidates fully engaged with the process, and giving them confidence in their ability to provide SVQ assessment evidence.”
Describing the role of Construction Assessor in three words John, said: “Rewarding, challenging, and fulfilling.”