Scotland's apprentice of the year Peter MacLeod of Castle Fraser-based Laing Traditional Masonry demonstrated his skills to Alford Academy pupils this week, at an event coinciding with this year's National Apprenticeship Week.

Taking place at Alford Academy on Wednesday evening, the 25th February, the event also gave pupils the opportunity to try out stonemasonry for themselves and to ask Peter questions about pursuing a career in the traditional craft trades.

The 2009's National Apprenticeship Week follows recent announcements by the Scottish Government of a commitment to £230m of accelerated capital spending and an additional 7,800 apprenticeship places in 2009/10.

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Chief Executive of construction industry trade body the Scottish Building Federation, Michael Levack, said: "Apprentices are the lifeblood of the Scottish construction industry. This includes those who specialise in a 'biblical' trade such as joinery, plastering and bricklaying.

"It’s a rewarding career path that many young people should contemplate. Scottish construction firms rely on a consistent supply of apprentices to retain skills and capacity within the industry."

Mr Levack said even in the current economic climate, the construction industry must continue to recruit the next generation of homegrown talent.

"We now urgently want to see that money spent in a way that maintains a flow of construction work to sustain building firms’ demand for new apprentices."

Peter MacLeod added: "My apprenticeship has been a fantastic opportunity to develop a traditional skill and work on some historically important projects. Whatever the current economic situation, there are still opportunities out there for young people to pursue a career in traditional craft trades like joinery and stonemasonry. It’s a really interesting and rewarding line of work."

(GK/JM)