Scottish Apprenticeship Week is celebrated from March 2 to 6. Ryan Graham left Holy Cross unsure of what direction to take, but he chose a joinery apprenticeship with Barratt and David Wilson Homes. He is the first joiner in his family, with his father working in the police, his mother as a nurse, and his sister as a teacher.
Ryan Graham joined Barratt and David Wilson Homes at age 17 and is now in the final year of his apprenticeship. His training combines practical work with structured time at New College Lanarkshire through block release. He said, 'I wasn’t sure what path to go down at first.
I wasn’t sure what path to go down at first. I looked at all the options. I knew I wanted something that would give me a usable and practical qualification at the end of it. Uni just didn’t feel like the right fit for me.
I looked at all the options. I knew I wanted something that would give me a usable and practical qualification at the end of it. ' Meanwhile, Connor Murphy is a Modern Apprentice with South Lanarkshire Council.
He won Apprentice of the Year at the Chartered Institute of Housing’s (CIH) Scotland Housing Awards. Connor Murphy joined the Homelessness Access and Assessment Service (HAAS) in September 2024. He said, 'I am delighted at winning this award, and I have thoroughly enjoyed my time so far with South Lanarkshire Council.
I’ve always preferred hands-on work. I like building things, fixing things, seeing the result at the end of the day.
' Councillor Davie McLachlan, the chair of the council’s Housing and Technical Resources Committee, commented, 'Huge congratulations to Connor for this fantastic achievement, it’s always great to see young people thriving when they join the council. I know from speaking to his managers that they have been really impressed with how he has settled in, immersing himself in a demanding, high-pressure environment. They told me he always maintains the highest standards of professionalism and care, treating every person with dignity and respect.