Modern Apprentice Spotlight - Sean Gauld

Work-based training allows you to work towards a vocational qualification relevant to your employment, so you can learn while you earn and gain a recognised qualification. In this week’s blog, we meet an SCQF 6 Automotive Modern Apprentice who has successfully completed his apprenticeship and is now a successful technician.

Can you introduce yourself?

Sean Gauld and I am from Dundee.

Why did you decide to do a Modern Apprenticeship?

I decided to do a Modern Apprenticeship because I felt I would benefit more from working and learning at the same time. Learning skills on the job is something that appealed to me more than going to university.

Can you tell us a bit about who you work for?

I am working at Neville Garage LTD in Spittalfield, 5 minutes away from Dunkeld. We work on anything and everything that comes in. My boss, Ged, is an Audi master tech so a lot of the time we are working on VW cars, but we can be working on anything from 2CVs to Land Rovers.

Completing an Apprenticeship and working full time can be difficult to juggle – can you describe any challenges you faced and how you managed to overcome them?

I never found any challenges with juggling between work and college, it all sort of fell under the same roof. Whilst I was at college, I was learning the technical side of things and at work I was learning/applying skills and knowledge I had learned at college. For me, it worked out well.

How did you find the style of teaching and the support you have received from your trainer, employer, and assessors?

Completing an apprenticeship means a lot of the teaching is hands-on. Although there are periods of working in a classroom, it was all still hands-on and engaging. My boss and assessor both taught in the same way and just let me get on with the work in hand. If I had any questions or needed help, I would simply ask - which I liked.

Were there any standout/memorable moments from your Modern Apprenticeship?

Being nominated for Apprentice of The Year is an achievement I am happy with.

How do you feel your apprenticeship will help you in your career progression? What are your career goals and plans?

At the end of the day, I would like to have my own business, so by completing the apprenticeship it gave me the skills and understanding of how to do that.

And finally, what advice would you give to anyone thinking about doing a Modern Apprenticeship with Perth College UHI?

The advice I’d give is, if you are thinking of doing an apprenticeship just to look into what sort of job you will be doing. Phone around places, such as the college, and ask questions on what you will be expected to do/what you need to be doing.

Sarah-Jane Urquhart, National Training Programmes Manager at Perth College UHI, commented:

“Sean secured his apprenticeship during his Motor Vehicle full-time course. This progression was the direct result of a work placement opportunity, where Sean’s performance impressed the work placement employer on several levels. In particular, the employer was impressed by Sean’s work ethic, infectious enthusiasm to learn new skills, pleasant personality and excellent teamworking. Sean is highly motivated and focused, evidence of this can be seen when he made a conscious decision to give up his passion for playing rugby to concentrate on his apprenticeship.

Sean applied his knowledge and understanding gained from his first year of training at college into his workplace. Along with his excellent manners, always courteous when speaking to internal and external customers, and with the skills gained during his work-based training, Sean has developed into a professional technician, completing everything from basic servicing to complex system diagnosis.

From meeting Sean within the first few weeks of his college course, I knew he would achieve all his course objectives and excel within his career. Sean has developed into a mature, ambitious, and confident individual and seeing him develop within his skill set over his apprenticeship has been great to observe.”

Are you an employer looking to recruit an apprentice to enhance your workplace? Perth College UHI offer apprenticeship programmes, work-based learning and employment upskilling.

If you’re a school leaver, parent, carer or employer - and would like to know more about the apprenticeship programmes on offer – you can find out more information here.

We offer qualifications in 🔸Construction 🔸 Automotive 🔸 Engineering 🔸 Business 🔸 Hospitality 🔸 Social Services and Healthcare 🔸Hairdressing

If you would like more information, or advice, get in touch with Sarah-Jane Urquhart Sarah-jane.urquhart.perth@uhi.ac.uk