Twenty four people who have successfully completed their apprenticeships with Fife Council’s Building Services have been recognised for their achievements.

Their graduation to fully qualified tradesmen brings the number of apprentices who have completed their training with the service to more than 300 over the past 13 years.

Places on the scheme are highly sought after, especially in the current economic climate, with more then 2000 people applying this year.

All of this year's 'graduates' are now working with Building Services in their chosen trades as joiners, electricians, plumbers, glaziers, slaters and gas engineers.

Contrary to popular belief apprentices are not just for school leavers and five of the newly qualified tradesmen were adult apprentices.

For many of them the apprenticeship was a second chance they never thought they would have. John Westwater is a case in point. He worked in several jobs over the years before finally achieving his ambition to become a joiner.

For Douglas Ferguson who is now a gas engineer, an apprenticeship was more attractive than university. After leaving school with great exam results and going on to study engineering, he soon realised it wasn’t the right decision, as he explains.

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"When I was at university I enjoyed learning the theory but I really wanted to do the hands-on side as well so I applied for an apprenticeship with Fife Council and it was the best move I could have made.

"Now that I have finished my apprenticeship I am going back to university to get a degree as well as working for the council as a gas engineer."

Douglas has been very successful as an apprentice picking up many awards along the way. He was crowned Building Services Apprentice of the Year two years in a row, and won Scottish Apprentice of the Year from APSE (Association of Public Sector Excellence) earlier this year with his greatest triumph earlier this month when he won the title of Apprentice of the Year in the 'Male Mechanical and Electrical' category at the UK APSE awards.

Douglas has also been short listed for the Scottish Modern Apprenticeship Awards which will be held on 9 December. He will be up against tough competition with apprentices from other public bodies as well as private firms up for the 'Traditional Sector' prize. He is also nominated for the title of Overall Apprentice of the Year which is open to all categories of apprentice.

Building Services Manager, John Rodigan said: "In the current economic climate it is critical that we continue to invest in our young people to give them the chance of a better life, and also give more mature apprentices a chance to achieve their ambitions. "This is an opportunity for Building Services to support the community and the local economy in a way that can be a force for wider social good."

Mr Rodigan said the team are very proud of their commitment to providing opportunities at a very difficult time in the construction industry.

"We offer a chance that is simply not available in the private sector at the present time," he concluded.

(GK/KMcA)