Apprentices at EnerMech (June 09)
Apprentice Jarvis Ferguson was determined to secure a job and hear the words “You’re Hired” instead of tycoon Sir Alan Sugar’s well-worn catchphrase “You’re Fired!”
So much so, the teenager placed an advert in his favourite newspaper, the Press & Journal, seeking offers to take up a Modern Apprenticeship.
This unusual approach impressed Malcolm Kennedy, QHSE Manager with EnerMech, a mechanical services company which specialises in the engineering of cranes, lifting and hydraulic equipment.
The company, which has more than 350 staff spread from Aberdeen to Norway, Dubai, Singapore and Australia, also provides tool rental and training and safety services.
Malcolm sent a text to Jarvis asking for a CV and he was invited in to the company’s Aberdeen HQ for an interview.
Now, thanks to his endeavour, Jarvis, 16, of Bucksburn, is joining another aspiring engineer, Steven Dey, on EnerMech’s Modern Apprentice scheme. The pair will undergo four years on-the-job training and study for a range of SVQs and National Certificates at Banff & Buchan College.
Malcolm Kennedy explained: “Jarvis advertised in the Press & Journal looking for a modern apprenticeship and I contacted him by text and asked him to send in his CV. He was invited into EnerMech for a discussion and I presented the options available to him for working towards a modern apprenticeship. We gave him a tour of the workshops and facility explaining the type of work and services EnerMech provide and Jarvis left with information he had to research.
“I discussed the options with my colleagues and because of the initiative that Jarvis showed by advertising in the paper he was invited back for an interview. Following a college acceptance test at Banff & Buchan College, Jarvis was offered a position within the Cranes & Lifting division and he begins his college career path in August to obtain the award of Modern Apprentice.”
Fellow apprentice Steven, 16, of Inverurie, already knew that he wanted to secure a workshop apprenticeship after spending time on work experience while at school with EnerMech, and after a successful interview Steven was offered a position within the company’s plant and tool rental division.
Both Steven and Jarvis will spend the first year full time at college, completing an SVQ Performing Engineering Operations (PEO) and Level II Craft (Maintenance). In the second and third years the teenagers will go on day release, attending the National Certificate (NC) in Marine Engineering which is ideally suited to EnerMech as the course covers the products and service lines supplied to clients.
In the last year of their apprenticeship both lads will enrol on an SVQ/NVQ Engineering Maintenance level 3 to assess them on the job against their chosen discipline, whether it be in Equipment Maintenance or the Cranes & Lifting Division.
At a time when some firms are making significant cutbacks in their workforce, EnerMech are investing in the future and view Jarvis and Steven as the first in a succession of modern apprentices who can earn while they learn.
Malcolm added: “The plan is to formulate a timetable for an intake of apprentices from various disciplines both for summer and Christmas school leavers, or to take on apprentices from Banff & Buchan College who have completed their first year PEO, with us taking them on as second year apprentices.
“The number of apprentices will very much depend on the number of mentors and supervision within the given discipline, but a rolling programme to replace the first year apprentices as they move through their apprenticeship is being considered.
“By training apprentices, EnerMech can plan for future skills requirements, ensuring that the skills critical to our business success are not lost. Apprenticeships enable the company to have the right people, with the right skills, at the right time and we are confident Jarvis and Steven will set the benchmark for others to follow.”