L - R: Michael Rough, apprentice joiner and Bill Ross, senior construction manager
An apprentice joiner is on his way to securing a degree in Construction and the Built Environment thanks to Stewart Milne Group and Robert Gordon University.
Michael Rough who joined Stewart Milne Group in 2013 as an apprentice joiner, has been selected to take part in the group’s first graduate apprenticeship. Michael started his graduate apprenticeship in BSc (Hons) Construction and the Built Environment last month.
He will learn about the principles of construction project management, traditional and alternative procurement methods, how to build sustainably and more.
Developed by Skills Development Scotland, graduate apprenticeships aim to build the skills and knowledge Scottish industries need while providing people with an alternative pathway to a degree qualification.
Michael said: “This is a brilliant opportunity for me to go to university and get a degree while working which will enable me to pursue a career in site management, something I never thought I’d be able to do when starting out as an apprentice joiner. Stewart Milne Group is an inspirational company – its founder after all was a tradesman – and I’m really pleased and proud to have been given this chance.”
As a member of the Stewart Milne Group workforce, Michael will be able to apply his learnings to real-life projects and gain additional knowledge and experience relevant to his course of study. Academic learning from RGU will be provided through online teaching platforms and on-campus days.
To support him throughout his apprenticeship, Michael will have an experienced mentor. Bill Ross, senior construction manager for Stewart Milne Homes will provide technical and organisation expertise and knowledge to Michael throughout each stage of the graduate apprenticeship.
Bill said: “Michael shows real promise and, through the graduate apprenticeship, a whole new career path is open to him.
“When recruiting, we often find that applicants simply don’t have the technical, practical or job specific skills we need. Graduate apprenticeships are one of the ways we can overcome this. By nurturing our own apprentices, we are making sure they have the skills and competences we require, while they are able to study the theory and academic side with the support of RGU which leads to a degree qualification.”
Recent research has revealed that around 70% of Scottish employers think applicants lack the practical skills industry needs. Scottish businesses have spent more than £350m in the last year trying to address skill shortages in their industries. The seven graduate apprenticeship programmes available at RGU will help build the skills employers are looking for while allowing students to work towards a degree.
David McClean, head of the Scott Sutherland School of Architecture & Built Environment, commented: “We are delighted to develop our relationship with the Stewart Milne Group with the introduction of the graduate apprenticeship for construction and the built environment.
“This will give students, such as Michael, the opportunity to achieve a degree level qualification while simultaneously developing all the key skills required on the job at one of the industry’s leading organisations.
“The concept of the graduate apprenticeship as an educational pathway which opens up opportunity to those who traditionally may never have considered a university education is one that RGU is committed to, enabling people from all different backgrounds to achieve at this level.”