As Scottish Apprenticeship Week 2023 begins, Forth Valley College have revealed that an ‘Adopt an Apprentice’ scheme is helping MAs to find new employers after being made redundant.
Iona Hewlett (22) from Sauchie, who is in the second year of her Modern Apprenticeship in Joinery, was sadly made redundant late last year. However, after contacting her FVC Apprenticeship Officer, Irene Kane, she has now been recruited by another respected firm to complete her MA.
Total Reinstatement Services – who have been based in Riverside, Stirling for the last 24 years – were more than happy to ‘adopt’ Iona, after Managing Director Brian Gillies, had let it be known to the College he had been very keen for several years, to take on a female trade apprentice, believing that this would bring added benefits to his business.
With around 60 staff in construction trades such as joinery, decoration, plumbing and heating, groundworks and stonemasonry, Total Reinstatement Services have built up a respected reputation for refurbishing fire and flood damaged properties for the insurance industry, working for various local authorities and housing associations plus several charities and private clients.
As such they need reliable, professional and talented tradesmen and women who they know they can trust to deliver quality projects.
Iona, said: “If it were not for the ‘Adopt an Apprentice’ scheme it would have been a lot harder for me to find a new employer. Irene Kane at Forth Valley College went above and beyond for me to help find me a new firm, and now I am really enjoying working for Total Reinstatement Services, it is a great place to work. I am now looking forward to a bright future.
“My advice to anyone who finds themselves in a similar position as me would be to get in touch with the Apprenticeship Officers at Forth Valley College to see if they can help and not to give up, keep going and you’ll get through it.
“I am also loving learning at the College and would definitely recommend the FVC apprenticeship programme.”
Brian, said: “Iona recently joined Total Reinstatement Services as a second year MA Joinery Apprentice having unfortunately been made redundant by her previous employer. Forth Valley College were instrumental in gaining her this new role having circulated suitable construction employers to promote her, and gauge their appetite to employ a female trade apprentice. Total Reinstatement Services in Stirling were quick to request more details and having interviewed Iona, immediately made her an offer of employment.
“In general terms it is my belief that young women have a greater focus on their future careers than is often the case with their male counterparts. In Iona’s case she entered the profession aged 19, having worked previously within the hospitality industry. With this added experience and increased maturity, plus having selected such a male dominated trade, she fully appreciated the challenges which her chosen career would present.
“Consequently, she is all the more determined to prove her abilities by being the best possible version of herself. I believe also, that we have the requisite skills in-house to best offer her this opportunity and I will closely monitor her progress, confident of eventual success.
“Whilst it is early days for us, I would encourage other employers to consider the appointment of female trade apprentices to develop a skilled workforce of the future.”
Irene Kane, FVC Apprenticeship Officer, said: “When Iona was made redundant, I was speaking to Brian Gillies from Total Reinstatement Services one day and mentioned that I was looking for a new employer for a second year female apprentice. I sent Iona’s CV to him and he invited her in for an interview.
“Brian was so impressed by her qualifications, interview and attitude to work, that he offered her the chance to work with Total Reinstatement Services and took her on to complete her apprenticeship. I am delighted that Iona has settled in well and is enjoying her new start and am sure she will be an asset to the company.”
At the moment firms such as Alexander Dennis, Syngenta, Edinburgh Airport and Bo’ness Railway are actively recruiting for Engineering MAs, so anyone interested in finding out more about the FVC Modern Apprenticeship programme should visit https://www.forthvalley.ac.uk/ways-to-study/apprenticeships/modern-apprenticeships/
Iona’s photograph was taken by Courteney Rennie from FVC’s Communications and Marketing Department.