Work prospects for young Scots are being boosted with Scottish Water launching a number of schemes to provide training and employment opportunities.
The utility’s Modern Apprentice programme now has 77 young people enrolled, working across the business from operations to engineering, customer service and science. Thirty-three people are also currently working as part of Scottish Water’s graduate programme, with plans to recruit more in 2013.
Initiatives of the scheme
These include
- working with colleges, the SQA and the Sector Skills Council to create new qualifications;
- and ‘Apprenticeship Pathways’ to open up entry routes for young people across the wider water industry in Scotland;
- engaging with suppliers and partners such as Balfour Beattie and Farrans, encouraging apprenticeship intakes, with 26 young people already completing apprenticeships and a further 37 working towards completing the scheme;
- hoping to see around 30 new apprentices taken on each year, working with construction firms and sub-contractors helping to deliver Scottish Water’s massive £500 million annual investment programme;
- seeing a new schools’ work placement programme offering educational and experiential placements for young people, helping to develop the skills and confidence of young people;
- launching a Scotland-wide ‘Get Ready for Work’ initiative, assisting young people in making the transition between school and work through individual programmes of guidance and support, enabling them to progress to employment, further training or education;
- partnering with Barnardos for trainees to undertake structured work placements with Scottish Water’s customer service and waste water teams; with those who successfully complete the programme after 23 weeks having an opportunity to progress to Scottish Water’s full Modern Apprenticeship programme;
- offering internships for young people in areas relating to Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) to support the development of STEM skills and Year in Industry Programmes for STEM graduates in water related science.
The strategy
Paul Campbell, who leads Scottish Water’s Organisational Learning and Development, says: ‘In striving to deliver the very best water quality and customer service experience, Scottish Water is committed to developing talent among our 3,400-strong workforce. We recognise that – as one of Scotland’s biggest businesses with a massive programme of infrastructural investment – we can play a full and active role in helping the young people of Scotland kick start their career in Scotland’s water industry.
‘That’s why, working with others including construction firms and supply chain partners, we are straining every sinew to provide training and development opportunities for young people across as many entry routes and development areas as possible. This is something that was recently recognised when we won the Utility Industry Staff Development Award.
‘By promoting a range of sustainable opportunities for young people to progress their careers, we can help develop the next generation of water experts, gaining the skills and experience that will be necessary to take our industry forward in the future.’
Case Studies
After completing her degree, Rebecca Simister joined Scottish Water in 2010 as a Commercial Energy Graduate on a two-year specialist programme. As part of the Energy Team – which is working to make Scottish Water more self-sufficient in its energy use. She now spends time in different parts of the utility’s Commercial directorate, working closely with a number of different teams.
Rebecca says: ‘Scottish Water’s graduate programme has allowed me to spend time gaining knowledge and experience across the wider business as part of my development, and focus on developing my skills for my current role as an Energy Adviser. The programme has allowed me to progress into my new career after university, with the right support across the Scottish Water. The graduate programme also enabled me to network with different teams and build on working relationships across the business.’
Another graduate, Kirsty MacLeod, a water operations management trainee, says: ‘The graduate scheme has exposed me to numerous departments within Scottish Water over the last 13 months. This has allowed me to gain a strong understanding of how the business operates and to develop a solid foundation for advancing in Scottish Water in the future.
‘The range of projects and tasks that I’ve been involved in has allowed me to further develop my core business skills as well as improve my technical understanding of the water industry.
‘The extensive graduate network in Scottish Water provides an excellent platform to exchange ideas as well as the opportunity to socialise with like minded individuals.’
The social and economic value of the initiative
This is certainly a multifaceted and major initiative form Scottish Water, opening up careers in water to people at different stages of their careers and possibly introducing them to careers they night not have known about or considered.
Involving the company’s own industrial partners in major construction projects also leverages increased experience and opportunity for young people.
With youth unemployment the most serious of Scotland’s social problems, this Scottish Water initiative could not be better timed. Since Argyll has water of all kinds at its heart, it is to be hoped that this vigorous menu of opportunities speaks strongly to the young people of Argyll.