THIS summer has been a great for Aircon Scotland – from contract wins to award wins, we’ve had a real reason to celebrate. The most recent reason being our apprentice Luke winning the Trades Awards Apprentice of the Year.
As I sat drinking my coffee on Saturday morning, I took a minute to reflect on Aircon Scotland’s success, how we’ve got here and the important part this plays in our company.
People are the forefront of any business. Investing time and money in their training regularly, both on site and, in our case through manufacturers specialist training, allows our team to perform at the best of their abilities at all times.
Our apprentice Luke is a perfect example of givers gain. Starting as a Tullos Training intern, Luke has worked hard to learn his trade, and last weekend was recognised for his endeavours.
Investments in skilled-trades training also can lead to well paid jobs for people, who might not have had the opportunity to go to college. I have worked with Princes Trust and Tullos Training to provide work experience, and more often than not apprenticeships, for students completing their ‘Get into Oil and Gas’ programme and with Aberdeen Foyer for years before that.
It’s important to me that we help develop young people who have potentially missed out on opportunities of employment due to circumstances beyond their control.
When the energy crisis hit Aberdeen the first thing cut from the majority of businesses was two things – hiring apprentices and staff training.
Aberdeen is not what it was three years ago but equally it is no longer dealing with the struggle we faced eighteen months ago – there is light at the end of the tunnel and we need to make a conscious effort to invest back into the city and its future.