Boost for future civil engineering workforce as students graduate from UHI Inverness

The latest construction operations students to graduate from the CECA Academy have celebrated their success at a special ceremony at UHI Inverness.

After they received their certificates, the eight graduates met with representatives from eight civil engineering firms at a networking session, in the first stage of a recruitment process which guarantees job interviews for all completing students.

Konrad Baczkiewicz, Jemma Bartlett, Jake Deary, John Gibbons, Harrison Macleman, Murray McCallum, Innes Munro and Jack Underwood made up the second cohort of students to undertake the 18-week course that was introduced last year to address the skills shortage in the civil engineering industry.

The Civil Engineering Contractors Association Scotland designed the course to meet the workforce needs of an industry with a growing skills gap. Energy Skills Partnership (ESP) worked with UHI Inverness and other colleges to introduce the course within the SQA qualification framework, and the Scottish Funding Council also provided support.

The course provides an important new route into the industry and will support the attraction and retention of new talent.

The ceremony was held at the Balloch campus of UHI Inverness and was attended by students, staff, family members, civil engineering sector representatives and members of CECA and ESP.

The graduation included a presentation from Grahame Barn, Chief Executive of CECA Scotland, on future billion-pound infrastructure projects across Scotland.

Jake Deary, Innes Munro, Jack Underwood and Jemma Bartlett

Grahame told the graduates: “By graduating today, you have set yourself on a road with a long prosperous career ahead.”

The students began studying for the NPA Construction Operations qualification in January, attending five days a week from 9am to 5pm. They learned a range of practical skills at the Balloch campus, which was supported with classroom learning at the Inverness Campus.

Graduate Jemma Bartlett said: “I enjoyed the course and my hope is that I will now go on to secure a position as an adult apprentice with a civil engineering firm.

“The lecturers were amazing, and really patient and knowledgeable. They always took the time and effort to make sure we understood everything.”

Grahame Barn of CECA Scotland, Jake Deary, Innes Munro, Jack Underwood, Jemma Bartlett, Murray McCallum, John Gibbons, Harrison Macleman, Konrad Baczkiewicz and Iain King.

William MacLeod, the Depute Curriculum Lead for Construction, Technology and Plumbing at UHI Inverness who led the course, opened the event by thanking the lecturing staff for their hard work and the industry partners for supporting the students and attending the event.

Iain King, Curriculum Leader for Construction and Engineering, told the students they were graduating at an exciting time for the Highlands and Islands with lots of opportunities in civil engineering.

He added: “I know during your interviews you will do your best, and I want you to treat every day of your working life like it’s an interview day, and that will ensure your career will be more rewarding and you will keep learning.”