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26 September 2024

Bright Sparks get a Start at West

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West College Scotland is proud to mark its continued collaboration with The Prince’s Trust Scotland to deliver an innovative programme designed to provide local young people with an exciting head start in the electrical industry. This pioneering initiative will enable students to explore potential career paths, develop valuable skills, and set them on a path towards a rewarding future in this ever-evolving industry.

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Entering into their 12th year of partnership, the College and Princes Trust Scotland’s 'Get Into Electrical' programme offers valuable insights into the world of electrical, preparing participants to pursue an apprenticeship. The Prince’s Trust have worked alongside Department for Work and Pensions  and local job centres to recruit suitable candidates, offering practical advice and skills to young people with no clear path forward.

This year, 14 young individuals where selected for the programme where they received industry-specific training in all aspects of electrical work alongside essential health and safety training. The students also had the chance to sit their SECTT test and obtain their CSCS card, an essential for site work across Scotland.

William Burgoyne Jnr, Curriculum Quality Leader at West said,

"We are excited to continue our valued partnership with The Prince’s Trust, providing young people in our community with the opportunity to develop vital skills and explore career options in the electrical industry. By working together, we are helping to shape a skilled and motivated workforce, ready to meet the industry’s needs of the future.”

Kara Mearns, Partnership Development Manager at The Prince’s Trust, said:

“The Prince’s Trust is delighted to be able to continue our partnership with West College Scotland, which has provided skills development opportunities for young people in the region for 11 years now. We are proud of what our partnership has already achieved and are excited to be able to support young people gain valuable skills with this latest programme.    

The programme has achieved remarkable outcomes this year with four students securing apprenticeships and a further two moving onto one of our Pre-Apprenticeship programmes at West. The students were presented with their certificates of completion at a celebratory ceremony held at the College’s Paisley campus last month. The College would welcome support from any wholesalers or local employers able to support the future success of this initiative.