CR Smith has marked this year’s Scottish Apprenticeship Week by highlighting the role apprentices play in the local workforce, including in Inverness and across the Highlands.
The uPVC window manufacturer and home improvement installer said its apprentices working from the Inverness area support installation teams across a wide geographical area, covering communities including Forres, Nairn and Thurso.
Cieran Fagan (23) from Inverness is currently in his fourth year as a CR Smith apprentice and preparing for his final skills test. Studying at UHI Inverness, he combines college learning with hands-on experience on live sites across the north of Scotland.
Cieran said, “Studying at UHI Inverness has worked really well for me, as it lets me properly focus on learning at college before taking those skills straight back out on site.
“One of the biggest things I’ve learned is how important communication is. Being able to speak confidently with clients and work well as part of a team makes a huge difference. I left school halfway through fifth year because I knew exams weren’t for me, and if I hadn’t done this apprenticeship I’d probably still be working in retail.
“For me, the biggest benefit is knowing that once you have a trade, you have skills you can rely on for life. Having a young daughter also made it important for me to train, build a stable career and work close to home.
“I’d encourage anyone thinking about an apprenticeship to go for it. It’s a practical, secure route into a career, and it’s allowed me to create a future here in the Highlands.”
Findlay Ambrose (21) from Nairn is also nearing completion of his apprenticeship with the business, having studied joinery through UHI before moving fully into site-based work. He says apprenticeships are particularly important in the north of Scotland, where opportunities can be more limited.
“Doing an apprenticeship here gives you experience you wouldn’t get anywhere else,” Findlay explained. “There’s a lot of travel involved and the weather definitely plays a part, but you’re learning on real jobs, with real responsibility, which builds confidence quickly.
“It can be harder to find apprenticeships in the north, so having companies like CR Smith investing locally makes a real difference. If I hadn’t taken this apprenticeship, I probably would have moved away from Nairn, and Scotland all together.”
Ian Macfarlane, MD of CR Smith, said apprenticeships remain central to the company’s long-term approach to skills and workforce development.
“This year’s Scottish Apprenticeship Week theme, Working for Scotland, reflects what we see from our apprentices every day,” he added. “The work being done by our teams in Inverness and across the Highlands shows how apprenticeships support local communities while building the skilled workforce Scotland needs for the long term.
“When we invest in apprentices, we’re investing in people who want to work, train and build their lives close to home. That matters to our business, and it matters to Scotland’s economy, particularly in areas where creating and sustaining high-quality career pathways locally is so important.”
