Aberdeen-based Sparrows Group has invested in six new apprentices, bringing the total number within the company to 27.
As part of its modern apprenticeship scheme, the trainees will gain practical work experience in addition to studying towards a Higher National Certificate (HNC) and SVQ level three in a chosen discipline.
The company works closely with Skills Development Scotland and Aberdeen’s NESCol to ensure a structured approach to
its work-based training.
Sparrows is committed to ensuring that a steady stream of young professionals come into the business through apprenticeships, and it supports women into STEM roles, with apprenticeships undertaken in recent years in design, hydraulics and mechanics (
www.sparrowsgroup.com).
The company also invests in upskilling its existing personnel; over the past five years, 64 of its workers have undertaken apprenticeships.
As well as the modern apprenticeships, the business runs two additional training programmes.
Foundation apprenticeships — introduced last year — offer S5 and S6 pupils the chance to combine their time at school with an employer and a college or training company, with the incentive of a qualification at the same level as an HNC on completion.
Meanwhile, the Graduate Apprenticeships scheme, created in partnership with industry and higher-education institutions, allows employees to work towards an honours degree level.
Sparrows was one of the first employers in Scotland to sign up for this programme — in 2017.
Stewart Mitchell, Sparrows Group CEO, said: “Our commitment to developing the next generation of engineers has been vital to the success of our operations for more than 40 years.
"Giving young people opportunities at the start of their careers and providing them with the core skills they require through on-the-job training with industry-recognised qualifications provides a well-rounded experience.
"They gain a better understanding of our business methods, and they are inheriting a vast wealth of knowledge from our existing expert team.”