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Local finalist heads for Modern Apprenticeship Awards

An Aberdeenshire engineering company is celebrating as one of their workers has been chosen as a finalist in Skills Development Scotland’s Modern Apprenticeship Awards, sponsored by HP.

Moira Cook, who works at Kintore’s STATS Group, is a contender in the Service Apprentice of the Year category.

She will travel to Glasgow’s Science Centre for the 10th anniversary Awards in December.

The Modern Apprenticeship Awards showcase the achievements of employers, apprentices and organisations who demonstrate initiative, enterprise and outstanding commitment to developing Scotland’s skills and economy.

Moira’s manager Derek Smart said her place in the final is “well-deserved”, describing the 19 year old as “diligent, hard working and still in learning mode since she joined us straight from school”.

Derek added: “We are delighted her great efforts have been recognised in the Modern Apprenticeship Awards. We never had any concerns over the quality of Moira’s work. We feel fortunate to have recruited someone like Moira who we feel will continue to learn and develop.”

Since joining STATS Group Moira has helped promote energy savings and reduce waste costs by 10%. She also organises the admin team’s monthly meetings.

The company, which is based at Midmill Industrial Estate, believe that apprentices – given the right direction and opportunity – can add exceptional value to a business. They have committed to taking on another two apprentices.

Moira’s assessor at Peterhead’s Ardlin Training, Lilian Smith, praised the support and encouragement Moira has received from everyone at STATS Group.

She added: “Moira achieved her Modern Apprenticeship more than six months earlier than expected, and received a Merit Certificate from us. She is obviously a very popular member of staff and an ideal candidate – bright, enthusiastic and quick to grasp ideas and translate them into effective pieces of work. She started SVQ Business and Administration Level 4 earlier this year and is coping confidently with this advanced course and her varied and challenging workload.”

When Moira heard about her place in the finals she admitted her first reaction was shock, but she is delighted her work has been recognised in this way.

Moira always knew she wanted to work in an office and began her Modern Apprenticeship just three weeks after joining STATS Group. She has worked in different parts of the business and feels this experience has helped her progress well in her admin role.

“I enjoy my job and the best thing for me is the variety of things I get to do,” she explained.

HP’s Steve Murphy, Vice President, Global Account UKI, said: “HP are delighted to be the main sponsors at this year’s Modern Apprenticeship Awards. We have brought hundreds of technology jobs to our Erskine site, have vacancies for more and will be expanding our workforce there over the coming years. This will include a number of opportunities for graduates, interns and Modern Apprenticeships because we believe it is critical that Scotland equips all of its young people with business and technology skills which are essential to compete effectively in the global information economy. As someone born and brought up in Scotland this is particularly close to my heart.”

Skills Development Scotland’s Chief Executive Damien Yeates said: “The commitment shown to the Modern Apprenticeships programme by employers like STATS Group reflects their belief in the benefits to their business, individuals and, ultimately, Scotland’s economy. Moira is a terrific example of someone using Modern Apprenticeship skills to lay a first class foundation for themselves, their employer and both their futures.”

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