Four architecture and engineering Graduate Apprentices from Highland Council have taken part in an event for local schools to celebrate Scottish Apprenticeship Week 2026.
More than 40 students from Inverness schools attended a construction and engineering event at Bught Park Pavilion yesterday organised by engineering company, Rybka and Developing the Young Workforce (DYW).
Students heard from local businesses, took part in a design challenge and had the opportunity to talk to young apprentices.
Katie Ross and Ramsay Rostock, both Engineering Graduate Apprentices, and Camryn Campbell and Lauren Robertson, Architectural Technology Graduate Apprentices, were on hand to talk about their experiences as GAs with Highland Council.
Lauren said: “The best thing about the apprenticeship route is that you get to earn while you learn and put theoretical learning into practice with hands on experience. On site, people take real time and effort to pass on their knowledge and to explain things that little bit further. And it’s not just people from Highland Council, contractors from other companies have also gone out of their way to help me. I think people appreciate the effort we’re putting in as Graduate Apprentices and want to reciprocate.”
Katie enjoys being able to stay local for learning and working, and Ramsay feels being able to go straight into four years of experience is beneficial when compared to potentially studying for four years at university then trying to transition into work.
Camryn agrees that being a Graduate Apprentice offers different benefits to studying at university: “The best part for me is definitely being able to learn from the people around you, especially people working across various disciplines. Although you would also meet people at university, as a Graduate Apprentice you’re constantly meeting new people who are already in the job.”
Lauren added: “Everyone at Highland Council has been really friendly, welcoming and approachable and open to us asking lots of questions, which is for everyone’s benefit.”