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Get to know Innes, who joined the Nicol of Skene team in June 2024, as a General Site Operative Apprentice.
What is Innes’ role and what does it involve?
As a General Site Operative Apprentice, his role involves a mix of hands-on tasks that help keep the site running smoothly. This includes driving the dumper, using small plant machinery, and taking on a variety of construction-related jobs such as building steps, slabbing, kerbing, drainage work, and even removing tree roots.
What has Innes learnt in his apprenticeship so far?
Beyond the physical skills like operating machinery and construction techniques, one of the biggest things Innes says he’s learnt is how to work effectively in a team and communicate properly on-site. Good communication makes everything run smoother, and it’s been great to develop that skill alongside the practical work.
What was Innes doing before starting his apprenticeship?
Before starting his apprenticeship, Innes was still at school and worked a paper round while also doing seasonal landscape gardening work. He had also completed a Foundation Apprenticeship in Engineering, which sparked his interest in the industry and led him to apply for the apprenticeship program.
Why did Innes apply for an Apprenticeship with Nicol of Skene?
The Foundation Apprenticeship in Engineering Innes completed at school really ignited his interest in industry. He liked the hands-on aspect of it and wanted to develop his skills further, so applying for this apprenticeship at Nicol of Skene felt like the right next step.
What are his future goals?
In the next five years, Innes hopes to become competent in all the tasks he is learning now and maybe even be trusted to carry out certain jobs on his own. He also would like to figure out what part of the job he enjoys the most so he can start shaping his long-term career path.
Want to know a fun fact about Innes?
Innes likes working on cars in his spare time, and he recently took up boxing—which has been a great way to stay active and challenge himself.
What's the best advice he has been given so far?
"Give it a go, and if you don’t think you can do it right, just ask for help!"
Innes said this advice applies to everything in life, especially in his apprentice role in which he is always learning new things. Asking questions and learning from experienced people is the best way to improve!