(Pictured above left to right: Ewan Nicolson, Peter H, Keiren N and Barrie Nicolson).
Our Contracts Manager, Andrew Scotland (pictured below with Peter H) gave the following presentation:
“2024 is the 3rd year this award has been presented. The first winner back in 2001 was Keith G. It is also the 14th year it has been known as The Freddie Blues Memorial Award. For those who never met him, Freddie was George Nicolson’s very first apprentice. Freddie was a great guy, one of a kind. He was a friend as well as a work colleague and is still sorely missed to this day. It is right that we remember him through this Award.
The Spring of 2024 saw the company acquire James Sandie & Son Ltd, who were established way back in 1868 and is a company with a high reputation throughout the painting and decorating industry. Their workload is mainly concentrated in East Lothian but occasionally Edinburgh too. I know a few of you have worked on James Sandie & Son projects which is good for your future development to work on these to gain experience at the top end of the trade.
This year also saw the company continue its support of mental health wellbeing through adding posts on our website and other social media platforms during Mental Health Awareness Week. I am aware that quite a few of you have attended a mental health awareness course and I hope it was something that has helped you to understand mental health. It was certainly something that changed my whole way of thinking about it. Should any of you at any time start feeling low, please reach out for help as it is there. Do not suffer in silence or feel that you are alone in your situation. Mental health issues can and do happen to anyone at any time so do not feel ashamed.
This year saw Alasdair Kelly graduate to Tradesperson status and earn a contract. Since then, Alasdair continues to do well. Kye Hutchison and Owen Evans are now finishing their first year as tradespeople and again are both also doing well in their roles. I am sure if they were to both look back to a year ago, they would agree that the year’s experience has made them both better at their trade. It shows that as we promise, we will continue to work with you through your early years as time-served tradespeople.
2024 saw Peter H become the Winner of the CITB 3rd Year Apprentice of the Year Award so well done for achieving that.
It was a year which saw us take on 3 new apprentices. Both Liam D and Trystan W joined us from other companies – both of whom have settled in well. Our third addition came via the company’s apprentice recruitment campaign where we received almost 130 applications. These were whittled down to what was considered to be the strongest 8 applicants. In turn, 8 were invited to attend interview of which 6 replied and turned up. Out of those 6, Nathan J-McF was successful and once again has settled in. From reading college reports and listening to feedback from site, you are doing well so keep this up.
Now as it was explained to you all at the interview stage, it is still the company’s aim to grow its own workforce, to train and maintain, and to try and turn you into the best Tradesperson you can be. We are providing you with all the tools necessary to fulfill this. Through attending college , bringing you in here to use the Bill Paterson Training Room and teaching you the required skills on site, it is up to each one of you to seize this opportunity with both hands. By working hard at college and on site, by watching and listening, by asking questions if you are unsure, with good attendance and timekeeping, each one of you have it in you to reach the goal of earning a contract at the end of your apprenticeship. This is what everyone in this room wants to happen.
Now to the reason why we are here. This year’s Runner Up for Apprentice of the Year Award is Keiren N (pictured left). The winner of the Apprentice of the Year Award is Peter H. We congratulate you both.”
