Former MA takes apprentice under her wing

A former Modern Apprentice turned mentor has taken a current Forth Valley College apprentice joiner under her wing in the workplace.

Iona Hewlett (25) from Alloa, who works for Edinburgh based Building Finishing Services (BFS), epitomises the benefits of the Modern Apprentice programme in the Scottish Construction industry and was keen to raise awareness of her journey during Skills Development Scotland’s (SDS) Scottish Apprenticeship Week from Monday 2- Friday 6 March.

She has embraced her new role as a qualified professional joiner and also that of mentor to MA and colleague Kian McGee (22) from Cumbernauld, at BFS.

Iona Hewlett, said: “I feel the courses I studied at the College gave me a really solid foundation, not just in practical joinery skills, but also in understanding good working habits, standards, and the evidence required for portfolios. This has helped a lot when mentoring Kian, as I understand exactly what evidence he needs to gather and how to support him in meeting those requirements. Having recently been through the same learning process myself, I can relate well to where he’s at and explain things in a way that makes sense from an apprentice’s point of view.
 
“I genuinely enjoyed my time at College. The lecturers were approachable, supportive, and always willing to give extra help when needed, which made a big difference. The balance between hands-on practical work and theory really suited me and helped build my confidence, both in my trade and in working with others. Overall, my time at the College played a big part in getting me to where I am now and has been a real benefit in taking on a mentoring role.”

Kian McGee, who works as a Modern Apprentice Joiner for BFS, has been benefiting from the MA programme at FVC and also from the having Iona as a mentor at work.

Kian, said: “I am a third year Apprentice Joiner at BFS. The company specialises in rapid repairs for homes and properties across Central Scotland. We handle both internal and external repairs and wee take pride in completing property repairs and renovations promptly while maintaining high-quality standards. We follow the mantra of ‘repair over replace’ and we only replace when necessary, focusing on invisible repairs and solution-solving.

“I am currently being mentored by a former Forth Valley College Joinery Apprentice called Iona Hewlett, who qualified last year.

“The Modern Apprenticeship programme at FVC has been excellent and the lecturers and the facilities have been a great help. The apprenticeship has helped me progress by providing hands-on experience, developing my technical skills, and building my confidence on site. It has prepared me to work to a professional standard and take on greater responsibility in my career.

“I would recommend the Modern Apprenticeship and the College to other people interested in the construction sector as it helps you further your career.

“The best part of College so far has been learning practical skills that I can use straight away, alongside meeting new people and gaining confidence in my abilities. I’ve enjoyed being more independent and seeing my progress as I improve my skills overtime.

“The advice I would you give to a potential new student at Forth Valley College on the MA programme would be to ‘stick in’.”

Martin Norman, Senior Business Compliance Manager at Building Finishing Services UK Ltd, said: “We are extremely proud of both Iona and Kian and the commitment they continue to show to their development and their trade. Seeing Iona progress from Modern Apprentice to qualified joiner and now into a mentoring role is exactly what the Modern Apprenticeship programme is designed to achieve. Her ability to support and guide Kian reflects not only her technical competence, but also the professionalism, confidence, and standards developed through her training and workplace experience.

“This positive cycle of learning and mentoring brings real value to our business. It allows us to develop skilled tradespeople who understand our expectations around quality, safety, and customer service, while creating a supportive environment where knowledge is shared and talent is grown from within. Our partnership with Forth Valley College is instrumental in this process, providing apprentices with a strong foundation that benefits our teams, our clients, and the long-term sustainability of the business.”

Irene Kane, FVC Apprenticeship Officer, said: “When Kian told me he was going to be working with BFS to complete his apprenticeship, and then I found out that Iona was going to be mentoring him, I was absolutely delighted, having supported Iona through her four year apprenticeship and Kian for two years, I knew that they would make a great team and I look forward to watching both Kian and Iona progress in their careers with BFS.

“Also, thanks to Martin and everyone at BFS for their continued support, we have built up a really strong working relationship and hopefully this will continue for many more years to come. It is thanks to fantastic employers like BFS that all these young people succeed in their careers.

“If there are any companies out there who have considered taking on an Apprentice, but not sure how to go about it, please don’t hesitate to be in touch. Email maadmin@forthvalley.ac.uk and one of my colleagues will direct you to the correct Apprenticeship Officer.”