The course, which lasts two weeks, grows in popularity each year with 40 young people from Ayrshire attending the previous ‘Get into Engineering’ day at Emergency One's factory in Cumnock. During the course, attendees learn various skills and suitable workplace behaviours in order to better prepare themselves for their interviews. They are also informed on what job roles would be available and what life would be like as an engineering apprentice.
After the course in completed, all of the young people who were successful in securing an apprenticeship are supplied with a tool kit funded by a Prince’s Trust Development Award to ensure that they have everything they need to start their career. In the last few years, Ayrshire College has been brought in as the apprenticeship trainer, with the apprentices attending day release throughout their time in work. This allows the apprentices to gain work experience as well as furthering their academic learning in relation to their trade.
Morgan Middlemiss, operations manager at The Prince’s Trust said: “It’s vital that we work with local businesses to provide opportunities for our young people. Our partnership with Emergency One is a fantastic example of how we can combine our expertise to support young people in learning skills, building their confidence and in gaining experience and opportunity to secure sustainable employment.”
The Prince’s Trust and Emergency One have worked together for a number of years providing young people with the opportunity to learn the valuable skills needed to complete their trade. The apprenticeship course lasts four years and works alongside Ayrshire College. The mix between working in a successful manufacturing/engineering setting and gaining further education provides our apprentices with the foundation they need to start a career in the industry.
| To register your interest in Emergency One's apprentice programme, visit |
Some of Emergency One's board of directors have come up through this apprenticeship programme, including Production Director, Brian Girvan. “I started with Emergency One at the age of 16 as an apprentice coachbuilder," he said. "After a four-year apprenticeship I continued to focus on my trade, work hard and develop my skills, which has resulted in me now being a director within the company. None of this would have been possible without having the opportunity to take part in this apprenticeship programme.”
The Trust has helped over one million young people to date and supports thousands of young Scots each year. Last year, eight new apprentices directly benefitted from this program in many ways, including gaining new skills, becoming more confident individuals, and giving them a good start in life.
Aran Chidwick, 20, a mechanical fitter at Emergency One stated: “I passed my trade, I have my own car and will soon have my own house. None of this would have been possible if I never got involved with The Prince’s Trust and Emergency One apprenticeship programme.”
