A young woman from Campbeltown is excelling in her career as an apprentice mechanic with Argyll and Bute Council, having just passed her Cat C HGV driving test.
Ashleigh Conner, aged 19, has always had a keen interest in cars and fixing things, and was quick to apply when she saw the Council’s apprentice vacancy advertised on the My Job Scotland website.
Ashleigh is one of 42 young people who have been offered modern apprenticeship opportunities with the council since we began our award-winning Growing our Own Initiative in 2014. Other apprenticeships include IT, Business and Administration, Digital Media, Digital Applications, Waste Management and Youth Work.
‘Growing Our Own’ is designed to develop council careers for young people and is about giving young people job and training opportunities that mean they can build rewarding careers in Argyll and Bute.
As well as industry-recognised qualifications, the council offers additional training opportunities such as Duke of Edinburgh Award training and e-learning in a range of topics.
The council’s successful scheme has received national recognition, winning the Apprentice/Graduate award at the S1 Jobs Awards Ceremony last month for ‘true strategy and passion on delivery’.
Councillor Rory Colville, Policy Lead for Corporate Services, said: “Well done Ashleigh. It is great to see our young people flourishing as they develop their careers with the council. It is vital we plan ahead to ensure the council can attract and retain the skills we need to support our communities and area.
We are committed to giving our young people a chance that gives them a choice – we equip them with skills, experience and knowledge of the council’s work that mean they have options in building a career with us. Ashleigh is a shining success story and I have no doubt at all that she will continue to prosper.”
For more information about being an apprentice or graduate trainee with the council please see /growing-our-own.