Scottish Apprenticeship Week runs from 3-7 March and at Lothian we are proud to celebrate the impact our young workforce has on our business.
Lothian’s Engineering Apprentice scheme is highly regarded within our industry and attracts hundreds of applications each year. The on-the-job learning environment offers our apprentices the platform to develop their skills in a live working garage, contributing directly to the day-to-day running of the business.
The scheme has been a huge success for Lothian, training over 120 apprentices, with many of our Engineering Managers and Supervisors being former apprentices themselves.
One of those former apprentices is Michael Taylor, Lothian’s dedicated Training and Apprentice Manager. Michael believes his own learning experience at the company has enabled him to support our young people further.
“Having been there before myself, I understand what it takes to get through the apprenticeship,” Michael said. “I also think it makes me more relatable to the apprentices and they know they can come and talk to me if they are needing help with anything from completing paperwork to carrying out the practical elements of the course.”
The theme for this year’s Scottish Apprenticeship Week is ‘Made For Business’. Michael explained why our current apprentices are the right fit for Lothian.
“Without our apprentices, there would be a massive skill gap in our engineering function,” he said. “Our group of apprentices are learning the high standards that we are renowned for and are coming to work every day eager to learn and contribute to the success of the business.”
Our Engineering apprentices work towards an SCQF in either Bus and Coach Mechanical/Electrical (Level 7) or Vehicle Body Repair and Alignment (Level 6). Competition for places on our scheme is extremely competitive, and Michael explains what the business is looking for in any potential new apprentice.
“Reliability and punctuality are two of the main attributes we expect our apprentices to have,” Michael said. “We expect our apprentices to be eager to learn and willing to ask questions about their training, gaining vital knowledge from their more experienced colleagues.
“Patience and problem-solving skills are also key attributes that we look for.”
Michael’s own journey demonstrates the career pathway for apprentices at the company. Those who work hard and exceed the high standards set across Lothian’s engineering workshops will be given the opportunity to further develop their skills and enjoy a long, successful career at the company.
Lothian’s Engineering Apprenticeship scheme is delivered in partnership with GTG, with our apprentices spending time in modern, purpose-built facility as well as benefiting from developing their practical skills inside our workshops.