Scottish green chemical producer Celtic Renewables has welcomed four apprentices through a Modern Apprenticeship scheme in collaboration with Forth Valley College in Falkirk, Scotland.
The new apprentices met with Gillian Martin, Cabinet Secretary for Climate Action and Energy, at Forth Valley College to discuss their future career aspirations.
The meet and greet came as part of a wider visit to the institution, where the MSP for Aberdeenshire East met with a host of lecturers and apprentices to learn more about their contribution to the future of a low-carbon Scotland.
Each of the four college students will garner experience as an apprentice Electrical Engineer, Process Operator and Mechanical Engineer while studying for their Scottish Vocational Qualification at Forth Valley College.
This is the first year Celtic Renewables has participated in a Modern Apprenticeship scheme. It aims to expand its participation and take on more apprentices in the coming years as the company scales up its operations producing green chemicals using waste and by-products from food, drink and agricultural industries.
There are currently over 25,000 apprentices across Scotland, with close to two thirds (63.9%) training in the science, technology, engineering or maths (STEM) fields.
This uptake is a result of the £100m investment from the Scottish Government to encourage school leavers into apprenticeships, with the aim of creating a new generation of qualified workers to work in Scotland’s burgeoning green economy.
Commenting on the news, Kerry Johnson, Chief People Officer at Celtic Renewables, said, “The skills our apprentices will learn over the next three years will prepare them for the highly skilled, well-paid roles that are already being created as part of Scotland’s Just Transition.
“If we are to realise Scotland’s potential as the home of new low-carbon industries and technologies, we need to bridge the current green skills gap.
“Apprenticeships are a vehicle to equip young people with valuable skills, knowledge and on-the-job training that will be essential for achieving a more sustainable future.
“Once the apprentices finish their training, they will have a permanent role at Celtic Renewables.”
Caroline Hogg, Head of Apprenticeships at Forth Valley College, added, “Over the next year, apprentices from Celtic Renewables will benefit from a blend of classroom learning, practical workshops and hands-on training that simulate the real challenges of the industry.
“Our aim is to ensure that when they’re back in the workplace, they can apply what they’ve learned straight away and add real value to their teams.
“For the apprentices, it means they get the best of both worlds: academic and practical training from the College, combined with invaluable workplace experience at an innovative company like Celtic Renewables.”
Matthew Hampson, Process Operations Apprentice at Celtic Renewables, said, “I’ve just finished S5 at school, where I really enjoyed engineering-based subjects and I wanted a role in the sustainability sector.
“By the end of my apprenticeship, I’ll have a role at Celtic Renewables and it’s great to be earning and learning at the same time.”
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