For the fifth year in a row, the 41-employee, East Kilbride-based firm has taken on young people who will work towards a university degree over the course of four years while at the same time gaining invaluable professional experience.

Though the firm recognises the key strengths of traditional graduates – such as theoretical knowledge, fresh perspectives and technological fluency – it is increasingly inclining towards the apprenticeship route which offers real-life experience, a work ethic and an understanding of workplace dynamics.

The apprenticeships are also seen as a significant factor in staff retention, as they are statistically more likely to remain in their posts with the same firm for five years than graduate-entry employees.

Scott Macphail, director, civil engineering, at DBA, said: “We are delighted to have taken on another two apprentices who are already contributing to the firm and who will, I am sure, achieve as great a success as the GAs who have joined us previously.

“Rather than going to university full-time, they have chosen to become involved in real-world situations, solving actual problems and facing day-today challenges, while at the same time earning a substantial salary and remaining free of student debt.

“They will learn to communicate, collaborate and function efficiently within a team and, when they finish their course, they will be close to being incorporated, which is halfway towards achieving Chartership status. It is a really effective route to into a great career.”

The new employees are: Kieran Ross, 18, from East Kilbride, who is studying Civil Engineering; and Jenny O’Brien, 19, from Blantyre, who has chosen to specialise in Structural Engineering.

Scott Macphail said: “Kieran has an engineering tradition in his family and is keen to carry it on. He is a bright individual who fits in well at the firm, gets on with the staff and was signed up on the spot out of several candidates.

“Jenny is a very sharp and capable young lady who joined DBA at the end of March and has settled well in the team as she develops her knowledge and understanding of building structures. It is very refreshing to see the calibre of the young people like her who are coming into the profession.”

Both apprentices needed to have the same academic credentials as for a university course and will undertake the study part of their employment at Strathclyde University, which has an internationally-respected Engineering School.

Scott Macphail added: “Strathclyde offers a very slick, well-run and well-managed course. The way lectures are delivered on a digital learning platform is quite remarkable, with videos which students can watch over again. I wish that facility had been available to me when I was studying.”

“From an employer’s perspective, the GA route allows us to get to know the new members of our team and build up our staff from scratch. It is a much more consolidated way of learning and it helps us create a team from day one.

“Given a choice now between a recently finished graduate and a GA, there is no doubt in my mind that I would take the GA every time.”