Scotland’s Modern Apprenticeship Awards finalists

A mechanical engineer and his employer are among the finalists in Scotland’s Modern Apprenticeship Awards.

Nominee Ross Herbert Higher Level Category. Sellex Edinburgh

They will be joined by two other city employers – Standard Life and Young Scot - who are also hoping for success in the Awards, which are organised by Skills Development Scotland (SDS).

Ross Herbert is described by his employers Finmeccanica-Selex ES as “an indispensable asset”. The 22-year-old has become one of the ‘go to’ experts in CAD software systems and is a finalist in the Higher Level Apprenticeship category of the Awards.

His employers are hoping for a win in the Large Employers category for businesses with less than 5,000 workers. The company has 50 engineering, craft and business apprentices, with a further 32 being recruited this year.

Nominee Standard Life Macro employer. Edinburgh

Young Scot is a contender in the SME category for organisations with less than 250 employees.

The organisation started its Modern Apprenticeship programme three years ago. It was keen to capitalise on the fresh ideas and enthusiasm of young workers to remain dynamic to other young people.

Standard Life launched its apprenticeship programme in 1998 to attract the “cream of the crop” of local school-leavers.

The company, which is a finalist in the Macro Employer category for organisations with over 5,000 employees, believes apprentices’ talent has helped to transform the business.

Nominee Selex Large employer Selex Edinburgh

The Awards, which take place on Wednesday 18 November, in Edinburgh’s Assembly Rooms, have been partnered by CGI, CITB, SQA, the City of Edinburgh Council, Diageo, Eastern Exhibition and Display and GTG Training.

SDS’s Chief Executive Damien Yeates said: “Scotland’s Modern Apprenticeship Awards recognise the commitment to training show by employers and employees across the country. It’s this continued commitment that will see the number of Modern Apprenticeship places increase each year from 25,000 to 30,000 by 2020.”

He added: “Ross and the employers here are great examples of the benefits Modern Apprenticeships bring to individuals, businesses and the wider economy. All the finalists are to be congratulated for their achievements so far. The judges are certainly going to have a difficult task picking the winners.”

November will also see Modern Apprentices visit secondary schools across the country as part of SDS’s drive to encourage more young people to consider apprenticeships as a career path.

Scotland’s Modern Apprenticeship Awards 2015 – finalists

Level 2 Apprentice of the Year

Alice Pezzani - Falkirk

Auryn Chorley – Scottish Borders

Zbigniew Gierszewski – West Lothian

Level 3 Apprentice of the Year

Laura Black – Glasgow

Raymond McAlonan – North Lanarkshire

Steen Durno – Moray

Higher Level Apprentice of the Year

Laura Burdin – Angus

Michael Leftwich – Shetland Islands

Ross Herbert - Edinburgh

Apprentice Ambassador

Daniel Morrison - Glasgow

Katherine Duffy – Glasgow

Kenny McAllister – South Lanarkshire

Jonathan Campbell - Renfrewshire

Micro Employer – 10 employees or fewer

Lochabers Fish Bar - Moray

NS Design - Renfrewshire

The Wee Pie Company – Perth and Kinross

SME Employer – Between 11 and 249 employees

CMS Window Systems – North Lanarkshire

Waverley Housing – Scottish Borders

Young Scot - Edinburgh

Large Employer – Between 250 and 4,999 employees

BAE Systems Naval Ships - Glasgow

City Building - Glasgow

Finmeccanica-Selex ES – Edinburgh

Macro Employer – Over 5,000 employees

BT – Glasgow

Capgemini - Highland

Standard Life – Edinburgh

Public Sector Employer

NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde – Glasgow

Scottish Canals

University of St Andrews