The four electrical apprentices who left school this summer to join the company will spend their four-year apprenticeship in different areas of the IDS business including two years in the workshop learning how to build Standard Products and two years on site installing the equipment.

IDS director, Iain Doherty, said: “We hired four electrical apprentices straight from Scottish high schools. After their four-year apprenticeship, they will become qualified electricians.

“Each of our apprentices start their journey with a thorough understanding of our business. We hope this will set them off on the right path with the vision to see how their contribution to the Scottish construction industry makes a difference.

“Our apprenticeships form a significant element of our ability to maintain a resilient workforce capable of responding to our clients’ needs.”

The four electrical apprentices who left school this summer to join the company will spend their four-year apprenticeship in different areas of the IDS business including two years in the workshop learning how to build Standard Products and two years on-site installing the equipment.

The university course for graduate apprentices will ensure they gain the required knowledge and understanding of specific electrical and mechanical engineering principles, integrated with an understanding of general engineering, design, manufacturing and business, reinforced with good personal, inter-personal, team-working and project management skills.

IDS is also setting up a training academy to enable all employees, including apprentices, to further their knowledge of standard products. People attending the academy will be trained to fault find and set up instruments. Ultimately all employees will be trained to be multi-skilled.

IDS has built a selection of test booths and control panels in the workshop to enable the apprentices to train with the support of experienced engineers or electricians. The test booths will also be used to practice before their FICA (Final Integrated Competence Assessment), which is the last part of their electrical apprenticeship that they must pass to become fully qualified electricians.

One of the apprentice graduates, Cameron Clocherty started with IDS aged 18 as an apprentice mechanical engineer and has now embarked upon his graduate apprenticeship to enable him to gain a degree in BEng (Hons) in Design and Manufacture.

Twenty-two-year-old Cameron said: “I am currently working on our Standard Product Operation and Maintenance manuals to enable Scottish Water to proceed with the adoption process of the wastewater pumping stations.

“I enjoy working with experienced engineers and project managers designing baseline projects, as well being given the opportunity to progress from my original position as a mechanical apprentice to a Project Support Engineer to now enrolling on the graduate apprentice course. I have also enjoyed the workplace environment as it allowed me to grow my confidence and social skills through interacting with my colleagues.”

IDS started to standardise products for MEICA in 2008 and, by using standard products, have reduced the capital cost of projects and reduced the time it takes to get to site.

Executive director for M Group Services’ Water Division, David Sanderson, said: “By hiring these apprentices and graduate apprentices, we know that we are enabling our managers and leaders of the future.

“IDS will provide young people in Scotland with the skills, knowledge and practical experience needed to develop both personally and professionally.”

IDS was acquired by M Group Services in 2020.