GRAHAM staff were pleased to attend the Showcasing Construction Apprenticeship event at the Scottish Parliament Building in Edinburgh on 5 March to help MSPs and other key figures better understand the role apprentices play within the construction industry.
Held during Scottish Apprenticeship Week (4 – 8 March), the event was attended by several industry-leading firms from across the country, including GRAHAM.
Suzanne Stevenson, social impact manager, digital information specialist James Cornett, and head of social impact and support services Debbie Rutherford were joined by graduate apprentices Matthew Thomson and Michelle Jeffrey on the day. The team shared their personal experiences of construction apprenticeships, as well as the roles innovative technology plays within the industry.
The GRAHAM team hosted a stall at the event, where they explained the range of skills, training, and roles that are gained through apprenticeships while also showcasing the use of GAMMA AR to give MSPs, including chair of the Cross Party Group on Construction Monica Lennon MSP and Minister for Higher Education and Further Education, Graeme Dey MSP, an opportunity to try some of the technology to give them a better understanding of what life on-site is like.
The event featured several speakers, including Monica Lennon MSP and Graeme Dey MSP, as well as offering a personal perspective on apprenticeships from 2021’s Scottish winner of the Apprentice Award at the Master Builder Awards, and advocate for apprenticeships and women in engineering, Kirsten Officer. Other key speakers at the event included CITB chair Peter Lauener, and chair of Skills Development Scotland, Frank Mitchell.
GRAHAM apprentice Matthew Thomson graduated from Herriott Watt University in August 2023 with a degree in construction and the built environment. He said:
“It was a pleasure to have the opportunity to speak with MSPs and explain the role we play as apprentices on construction sites across the country.
“My experiences on-site have given me real, practical knowledge of how construction works, which complemented my studies at Herriott Watt University and given me a well-rounded understanding of the roles on a construction site, and I’m grateful to have been able to share this knowledge with the people in attendance at the event.”
Debbie Rutherford, head of social impact and support services at GRAHAM, said:
“Intrinsic to the future success of Scotland’s construction industry is attracting young people into the sector and helping them to realise the abundance of opportunities that are available. The use of virtual reality and AI is moulding and enhancing how the sector operates, and it’s fantastic to join other forward-thinking organisations at today's Parliament reception to demonstrate the impact of this.
“At GRAHAM Building North, we are proud to have a dedicated apprenticeship programme available through the GRAHAM Academy, with 38 young people currently enrolled and on a track to becoming fully qualified in roles including quantity surveyors, design managers, civil engineers and site managers. We are excited to continue welcoming new faces and inspiring the next generation of the construction workforce.”