Marine Engineer, Callum Nicol started out his career journey doing work experience at Crinan Boat Yard on the West coast in Argyll. Now the Director and Co-founder of 360 Boat Services Ltd, a dedicated Marine Engineering, Boat Care and Repair Specialist based in Largs Yacht Haven, Callum has come full circle offering another local student, Luke Robson 19 from Largs his start on the career ladder.

Callum and his business partner, Tom Simister were determined to recruit locally and Luke is one of two young employees who come from the Largs area. Luke recently started his Modern Apprenticeship with 360, which will not only see him gain invaluable industry experience working alongside Callum but he will also complete his HNC Engineering at West College Scotland’s Greenock campus.

Speaking of how he started his own journey Callum said, “Having always been passionate about mechanical objects and coming from a family of keen boaters, it was a no brainer for me to jump in to the industry when I was offered a job.”

Soon after joining Crinan Boat Yard he was offered the opportunity of a Modern apprenticeship in Mechanical Engineering and since then he has never looked back.

Callum credits his own boss at the time, John Dunlop at Crinan Boat Yard for giving him the opportunity to get started in this fiercely competitive industry. Having come up through the ranks of the Modern Apprenticeship scheme himself, Callum knew it would be an ideal pathway to train up his own young workforce to become fully qualified Engineers.

360 Boat Services was established in 2015 and specialises in the servicing and repair of leisure boats on The Clyde. Having seen their organisation grow steadily over recent years now to a team of 7, Callum felt the time was right to offer another budding Engineer their start and share some of his industry skills & knowledge. Callum spoke of the positives of the Apprenticeship framework saying,  

“This process is beneficial to both the company and to the candidate. By offering someone a chance to learn a trade on the job and hopefully offer them a career path as well as a long time job role is fantastic for everyone involved. I can’t recommend the Modern Apprenticeship scheme highly enough for employers and people looking for a start in their career.”

Skills Programme Co-ordinator, Derrick White who mentored Callum during his Apprenticeship and is now supporting Luke during his time at West College Scotland said, “As Callum completed an Apprenticeship in Mechanical Engineering, he values the training and support that he received from his employer and the Further Education sector during his own Apprenticeship journey." He continued, 

"It is great to see that Callum has established and grown his own business and has now come full circle in the framework in providing an Apprenticeship opportunity to Luke. We wish them both all the best for their exciting future”

Here is Callum to tell us more about why he values the Apprenticeship framework: