BAM Construction has welcomed its first surveying apprentice following the launch of Skills Development Scotland’s Graduate Level Apprenticeship in Construction and the Build Environment.

Alison Keillor has joined the company and will combine studying at Edinburgh Napier University with working on major projects within the business.

Despite leaving Linlithgow Academy with excellent exam grades, Alison decided that a full time university course was not what she wanted, and, after considering her options, applied to BAM for a place on the first Graduate Level Apprentice (GLA) scheme.

Alison said: “I was struggling to decide what I wanted to do when I left school and while I had a place to study economics at Edinburgh University, the GLA programme suits me far more than full time study. I’m really glad that I reached this choice and I’ve had a great welcome to the business and can’t wait to start on my first two week teaching block at Napier.”

Bruce Dickson, regional director for BAM Construction, was involved in shaping the new syllabus for the CBE framework as chair of the Technical Expert Group.

He said: “The new structure is designed to be more practical and fully aligned to the competencies required by a qualified surveyor. Previously it took six years to complete the degree and there was little interface between industry and academia. Now SDS and the RICS have brought the two together to create a training framework that works for everyone and they deserve huge credit for making this happen.

“Producing the framework was challenging but in my opinion, we got all of the right people in the room and have produced a really exciting new option for young people to join the industry’.

“Alison was very impressive at interview and is a perfect pathfinder for the scheme. We’re already looking to recruit a second apprentice and remain committed to encouraging people to consider construction as a career choice as it offers such a diverse range of different job roles. It’s a big step forward for the GLA in putting construction on the same footing as other industries who have established GLA programmes.”