Apprentices urged to grab every opportunity
THE latest batch of Dounreay’s newly-qualified skilled workers have been told to enjoy the best years of their working lives as their apprenticeship is just the beginning of their continuous professional development.
Giving the keynote speech at the annual awards ceremony — staged at the Pentland Hotel in Thurso —Derek Andrews, an external verifier with awarding organisation EAL, talked about his own career history spanning more than 42 years.
Derek summarised his own working life since becoming a craft apprentice in the early ’70s and how he developed his knowledge to better his career over the years by enrolling in evening classes as well as studying languages.
He was speaking at the annual prize-giving ceremony of Dounreay’s apprentice training programme where he presented certificates of indenture and achievement trophies to the latest group of youngsters to qualify in electrical, mechanical and instrument crafts.
Derek congratulated the apprentices for all their hard work and added: "I applaud you all for your achievements.
"This is just the beginning of your working life, you must grasp every opportunity and don’t rest on your laurels.
"You must always strive to continually better yourselves throughout your professional lives.
"You are a credit to your companies — apprenticeships are a great opportunity for young people and I congratulate you for seizing the chance to train and better yourselves."
As part of its commitment to socioeconomics, Dounreay Site Restoration Ltd is working to help the local economy retain the high-quality training when it’s no longer needed by the site.
A new generation of skilled workers will be needed to make the most of the investment prospects the county is being offered as Dounreay’s impending closure looms.
More than a thousand people have served their time as apprentices at Dounreay. When the site shuts down there will be highly trained professionals to continue the legacy of Dounreay’s skilled workforce to develop the county’s new industrial opportunities.