A Scottish network infrastructure specialist has recruited on a record number of apprentices over the past six months.
Westhill-headquartered Xtreme Business Solutions has taken on seven apprentice data engineers since September last year. The apprentices, who are now working alongside the firm’s 48 staff at its Scottish bases near Aberdeen and in Dalgety Bay, Fife, are following the route of vocational training as a means of securing on-the-job qualifications.
Three of the apprentices are based in the north-east, while four are employed at Xtreme’s office in Fife. Two of the Aberdeenshire-based apprentices, 20-year-olds Luke Davies from Peterhead and Gavin Donald from Aberdeen, were chosen from a number of young people taking part in local initiatives organised by The Prince’s Trust. Completing the trio of north-east apprentices is 19-year-old Tomasz Duncan of Aberdeen.
In Fife, Dunfermline 18-year-olds Jack Hunter, Gabriel Scott and Aaron Murray, and 19-year-old Dillon Graham from Falkirk have joined Xtreme straight from school and college.
The young recruits are managed by Xtreme’s team of skilled engineers who let them progress and take on new challenges throughout their three-year apprenticeships. During this time, each apprentice will combine practical on-the-job experience with a college course in telecoms that will see them gain an NVQ.
Xtreme has found that this system of training is becoming increasingly popular, with many young people choosing to complete an apprenticeship over pursuing university degrees. The latest recruits brings the total number of staff employed by Xtreme who have gained the qualification during their time with the firm to 23.
The firm, which designs, supplies and installs a wide range of IT systems, has championed the importance of apprenticeships. Managing director, Graeme Duncan, began his own career as an apprentice aged 16, before establishing the firm 13 years ago.
Many of the apprentices that Xtreme has taken on are still employed by the company, with some working on projects throughout the UK and overseas, including on offshore installations where Xtreme is involved in upgrading cabling to meet the demands of the modern oilfield.
Graeme said: “As a company, the only way we can combat the shortage of fully qualified data and fibre engineers in our industry is to take on the younger generation and instil the right skills, attitude and respect in them. We are very fortunate to be in a position that enables us to provide a start to so many apprentices just now, and it is fantastic to welcome all seven to our team here at Xtreme.
“All of our apprentices have a genuine opportunity to make a great career for themselves. I hope that they will follow in the footsteps of our highly skilled team, many of whom get to travel the world through their work.
“Having been through the process myself, an apprenticeship is a brilliant first rung on any career ladder. It is vital that businesses continue to invest in supporting tomorrow’s workforce in this way. National Apprenticeship Week is an excellent platform to celebrate all that is great about apprenticeships and Xtreme is proud to mark it with our latest intake”
More information about Xtreme is available at www.xtremesolutionsltd.com .