Celebrating Scottish Apprenticeship Week! Spotlight on: Jack Nicolson

At the end of Scottish Apprenticeship Week 2020, we hear from Academy Programme student Jack Nicolson about his time at college on the NC Built Environment course.

Did you know that you can continue valuable secondary school education while gaining professionally recognised qualifications and industry experience? Here at Shetland College UHI we are working in partnership with SIC Schools Service and NAFC Marine Centre UHI, to deliver Foundation Apprenticeships and Academy Programmes to school pupils in Secondary 5 and Secondary 6.

Anderson High School pupil Jack Nicolson is currently studying Construction through our Academy Programme and will obtain a National Certificate (NC) in Built Environment.

Scottish Apprenticeship Week celebrates the benefits that apprenticeships bring to businesses, individuals and the economy. Our schools programmes enable students to gain professionally recognised qualifications as well as important industry experience.

Jack has undertaken two placements during his time here. These were at Tulloch Developments and Hjatland Housing. Jack would like to have a career in construction and feels that his studies vastly improved his knowledge of the built environment.

When asked what advice he would give to those considering studying a Foundation Apprenticeship or Academy Programme he said: "Pay attention and do what's asked of you."

Jack enjoys learning new and more contextual things about the built environment, and working at his own pace with support from staff who have strong industry links. Jack thinks that one of the many benefits of living in Shetland is the variety of job and training opportunities that can be accessed locally.

For more information, head over to the schools section of our website.